> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://wpay-feat-edp-guide.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Common scenarios

The following is a list of common scenarios that merchants use when creating
transactions. Your use case will really depend on how your checkout is handled.

## E-commerce

A customer provides their payment details for a one-off payment and the payment
method is not stored. The transaction is created directly after the payment
details are provided.

* `payment_source=ecommerce`
* `merchant_initiated=false`
* `is_subsequent_payment=false`

This is the end of this scenario. There is no merchant-initiated part.

## Fast checkout

A customer at checkout agrees to store their card for quicker checkouts in the
future.

* `payment_source=card_on_file`
* `merchant_initiated=false`
* `is_subsequent_payment=false`

The same customer then returns to the checkout at a later point and decides to
checkout with this stored card.

* `payment_source=card_on_file`
* `merchant_initiated=false`
* `is_subsequent_payment=true`

<Note>
  Embed automatically applies the properties in this scenario for new and stored
  payment methods when the `paymentSource` prop is left to its default value.
</Note>

## Unscheduled payments

A customer at checkout agrees to store their card for future transactions, and
allows the merchant to initiate an unscheduled transaction in the case that there
are any additional charges they incur on their account.

* `payment_source=card_on_file`
* `merchant_initiated=false`
* `is_subsequent_payment=false`

At a later point, this same customer might incur some extra charges on their
account. The merchant can then charge the card while the customer is not
present.

* `payment_source=card_on_file`
* `merchant_initiated=true`
* `is_subsequent_payment=true`

<Info>
  **Subscriptions vs Unscheduled payments**

  The key difference between this scenario and a subscription is that a
  subscription is generally handled as a scheduled payment with a predictable
  amount and recurrence, where an unscheduled payment can occur outside of a
  schedule and for any amount.
</Info>

## Installments

A customer at checkout agrees to pay for goods over a certain amount of
installments.

* `payment_source=installment`
* `merchant_initiated=false`
* `is_subsequent_payment=false`

A customer is then charged for each subsequent installment by the merchant when
the payment is due. The customer is not present for this transaction.

* `payment_source=installment`
* `merchant_initiated=true`
* `is_subsequent_payment=true`

<Info>
  **Subscriptions vs Installments**

  The key difference between this scenario and a subscription is that an
  installment has a finite number of transactions, where a subscription is
  generally recurring until the subscription is canceled.
</Info>

## Subscriptions

A customer at checkout agrees to pay for a regular recurring subscription for a
certain amount, paid at a fixed interval.

* `payment_source=recurring`
* `merchant_initiated=false`
* `is_subsequent_payment=false`

This customer is then charged for each subsequent payment when the payment is
due. The customer is not present for this transaction.

* `payment_source=recurring`
* `merchant_initiated=true`
* `is_subsequent_payment=true`