upgrade-stripe

SKILL.md

The latest Stripe API version is 2026-04-22.dahlia - use this version when upgrading unless the user specifies a different target version.

Upgrading Stripe Versions

This guide covers upgrading Stripe API versions, server-side SDKs, Stripe.js, and mobile SDKs.

Understanding Stripe API Versioning

Stripe uses date-based API versions (e.g., 2026-04-22.dahlia, 2025-08-27.basil, 2024-12-18.acacia). Your account’s API version determines request/response behavior.

Types of Changes

Backward-Compatible Changes (don’t require code updates):

New API resources

New optional request parameters

New properties in existing responses

Changes to opaque string lengths (e.g., object IDs)

New webhook event types

Breaking Changes (require code updates):

Field renames or removals

Behavioral modifications

Removed endpoints or parameters

Review the API Changelog for all changes between versions.

Server-Side SDK Versioning

See SDK Version Management for details.

Dynamically-Typed Languages (Ruby, Python, PHP, Node.js)

These SDKs offer flexible version control:

Global Configuration:

import stripe
stripe.api_version = '2026-04-22.dahlia'

Stripe.api_version = '2026-04-22.dahlia'

const stripe = require('stripe')('sk_test_xxx', {
  apiVersion: '2026-04-22.dahlia'
});

Per-Request Override:

stripe.Customer.create(
  email="customer@example.com",
  stripe_version='2026-04-22.dahlia'
)

Strongly-Typed Languages (Java, Go, .NET)

These use a fixed API version matching the SDK release date. Don’t set a different API version for strongly-typed languages because response objects might not match the strong types in the SDK. Instead, update the SDK to target a new API version.

Best Practice

Always specify the API version you’re integrating against in your code instead of relying on your account’s default API version:

// Good: Explicit version
const stripe = require('stripe')('sk_test_xxx', {
  apiVersion: '2026-04-22.dahlia'
});

// Avoid: Relying on account default
const stripe = require('stripe')('sk_test_xxx');

Stripe.js Versioning

See Stripe.js Versioning for details.

Stripe.js uses an evergreen model with major releases (Acacia, Basil, Clover, Dahlia) on a biannual basis.

Loading Versioned Stripe.js

Via Script Tag:

<script src="https://js.stripe.com/dahlia/stripe.js"></script>

Via npm:

npm install @stripe/stripe-js

Major npm versions correspond to specific Stripe.js versions.

API Version Pairing

Each Stripe.js version automatically pairs with its corresponding API version. For instance:

Dahlia Stripe.js uses 2026-04-22.dahlia API

Acacia Stripe.js uses 2024-12-18.acacia API

You can’t override this association.

Migrating from v3

Identify your current API version in code

Review the changelog for relevant changes

Consider gradually updating your API version before switching Stripe.js versions

Stripe continues supporting v3 indefinitely

Mobile SDK Versioning

See Mobile SDK Versioning for details.

iOS and Android SDKs

Both platforms follow semantic versioning (MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH):

MAJOR: Breaking API changes

MINOR: New functionality (backward-compatible)

PATCH: Bug fixes (backward-compatible)

New features and fixes release only on the latest major version. Upgrade regularly to access improvements.

React Native SDK

Uses a different model (0.x.y schema):

Minor version changes (x): Breaking changes AND new features

Patch updates (y): Critical bug fixes only

Backend Compatibility

All mobile SDKs work with any Stripe API version you use on your backend unless documentation specifies otherwise.

Upgrade Checklist

Review the API Changelog for changes between your current and target versions

Check Upgrades Guide for migration guidance

Update server-side SDK package version (e.g., npm update stripe, pip install --upgrade stripe)

Update the apiVersion parameter in your Stripe client initialization

Test your integration against the new API version using the Stripe-Version header

Update webhook handlers to handle new event structures

Update Stripe.js script tag or npm package version if needed

Update mobile SDK versions in your package manager if needed

Store Stripe object IDs in databases that accommodate up to 255 characters (case-sensitive collation)

Testing API Version Changes

Use the Stripe-Version header to test your code against a new version without changing your default:

curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/customers \
  -u sk_test_xxx: \
  -H "Stripe-Version: 2026-04-22.dahlia"

Or in code:

const stripe = require('stripe')('sk_test_xxx', {
  apiVersion: '2026-04-22.dahlia'  // Test with new version
});

Important Notes

Your webhook listener should handle unfamiliar event types gracefully

Test webhooks with the new version structure before upgrading

Breaking changes are tagged by affected product areas (Payments, Billing, Connect, etc.)

Multiple API versions coexist simultaneously, enabling staged adoption