In the tutorial titled “Build a Shopping Cart With React JS & Stripe” by Traversy Media, Cooper Codes, a new YouTuber, takes you through the process of creating a shopping cart using React JS and integrating it with Stripe for payment processing. The video covers various topics such as creating components, implementing React Router, loading products dynamically, creating a modal for the cart, and adding cart functionality. Additionally, it demonstrates how to create a Stripe account, set up an Express server, and create a checkout process with Stripe. Overall, this tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to building a fully functional shopping cart with payment processing using React JS and Stripe.
Throughout the tutorial, Cooper Codes provides step-by-step instructions on creating different pages for the application, utilizing React Bootstrap components for styling, and using React context to store and access cart data and functions. The content also discusses mapping and product ID in JavaScript and demonstrates the use of the useContext hook to access the cart context in a React application. Furthermore, it provides an overview of the back-end implementation using Stripe for payment processing, including creating products in Stripe, setting up the back-end server, and triggering a request to initiate the checkout process. By the end of the tutorial, viewers will have a solid understanding of building a shopping cart with React JS and Stripe, making it a cool project to work on for both beginners and experienced developers.
Getting Started with the Project
Setting up the working environment
To begin with, you will need to set up your working environment. Start by creating an empty folder and opening a terminal in that location. Use the command npx create-react-app store to create your React application. Once the application is created, navigate into the store folder using the command cd store.
Project structure and workflow
Next, it’s important to understand the project structure and workflow. Inside the src folder, create a new folder called components to store your React components. This is where all the components for the front-end will be located.
Introduction to technologies: React.js and Stripe
Before diving into the project, it’s important to become familiar with the main technologies you will be using: React.js and Stripe. React.js is a popular JavaScript library for building user interfaces, while Stripe is a secure and reliable payment processing platform. Understanding these technologies will help you navigate through the development process more effectively.
Creating the Base for Your Shopping Cart
Installing necessary packages and dependencies
To get started with building your shopping cart, you will need to install some necessary packages and dependencies. Use the command npm install bootstrap react-bootstrap react-router-dom to install Bootstrap, React Bootstrap, and React Router.
Setting up React Router
React Router is a library that allows you to create routes in your React application. Routes define which components to render based on the URL path. To set up React Router, import the necessary components from react-router-dom and use the component to wrap your application.
Understanding the relevance of pages vs components in this project
In this project, it is recommended to create separate pages for different routes, such as the store page, cancel page, and success page. Each page will have its own component, which will provide the necessary functionality and data for that specific route. Components, on the other hand, are reusable elements that can be used across multiple pages.
Designing the Store Component
Creating routes for our application
To create routes for your application, use the Route component from react-router-dom and assign the appropriate components and paths using the path and component props. This will allow you to navigate between different pages in your application.
Building product cards to display items
In order to display the products available in your store, you will need to create product cards. Product cards are components that display information about a specific product, such as the product image, name, price, and a button to add the product to the cart. Use the Card component from React Bootstrap to create visually appealing product cards.
Utilizing React Bootstrap for styling
React Bootstrap is a library that allows you to easily style your components using pre-designed Bootstrap components. Utilize the various components provided by React Bootstrap, such as Row, Column, Card, and Button, to style your store component and product cards.
Implementing the Cart Context
Understanding the role of React Context in our application
React Context is a feature in React that allows you to share data between components without having to pass props through multiple levels of the component tree. In this project, React Context will be used to store and access cart data and functions throughout the application.
Designing the structure of the cart context
Before implementing the cart context, it’s important to design the structure of the context. The cart context should have properties like items, which store the products in the cart, and functions like adding one to the cart, removing one from the cart, deleting from the cart, and calculating the total cost of the cart.
Incorporating properties and functions within the context
To incorporate properties and functions within the cart context, create a new file called CartContext.js inside the components folder. In this file, use the createContext function from React to create the cart context. Then, create a cart provider component that wraps the entire application and provides access to the cart data and functions.
Manipulating Cart Data
Introducing deleteFromCart and removeOneFromCart functions
In order to manipulate cart data, you will need to introduce the deleteFromCart and removeOneFromCart functions. The deleteFromCart function removes an item completely from the cart, while the removeOneFromCart function decreases the quantity of an item by one.
Utilizing the useContext hook for context access
To access the cart context within your components, utilize the useContext hook from React. This hook allows you to access the cart data and functions provided by the cart context. Import the cart context and use the useContext hook to access the data and functions you need.
Calculating total cost of cart items
To calculate the total cost of the items in the cart, you will need to iterate over the cart items and calculate the cost of each item based on its quantity and price. Sum up the costs of all items to get the total cost of the cart.
Setting Up an Express Server
Creating a Stripe Account
Before integrating Stripe into your application, you will need to create a Stripe account. Visit the Stripe website and sign up for an account. Once you have created an account, you will receive an API key that you will use to communicate with the Stripe API.
Introduction to Express Server
An Express server is a fast and minimalist web application framework for Node.js. In this project, we will use Express to create a back-end server that handles Stripe payment processing.
Integrating Express server with our application
To integrate the Express server with your application, you will need to create a new folder called server in the root directory of your project. Inside the server folder, create a new file called server.js and import the necessary packages and dependencies. Set up the server routes and implement the Stripe API to handle payment processing.
Creating Products in Stripe and Back-End Server Set-up
Understanding the process of product creation in Stripe
To create products in Stripe, you will need to use the Stripe API. The API allows you to create products with details like name, description, price, and currency. Create products in Stripe that match the products you have in your store component.
Configuring the back-end server
Configure the back-end server to handle requests for creating products in Stripe. Create a route that receives the product details from the front-end and uses the Stripe API to create the product in Stripe. Return the created product information to the front-end.
Implementing payment process with Stripe
Implement the payment process with Stripe by creating a route that receives the payment information from the front-end. Use the Stripe API to create a payment intent and confirm the payment. Return the payment details, such as success or failure status, to the front-end.
Initiating the Checkout Process
Triggering a request to the back-end server
To initiate the checkout process, trigger a request to the back-end server when the user clicks on the checkout button. This request should include the cart data and other necessary information needed for payment processing.
Walking through the checkout process using Stripe
After triggering the request to the back-end server, the checkout process using Stripe begins. Stripe will handle the payment processing and provide a secure and smooth user experience. The user will be redirected to the Stripe checkout page, where they can input their payment information.
Displaying payment details on Stripe dashboard
Once the payment is successfully processed, the payment details will be displayed on the Stripe dashboard. These details will include information about the products purchased, the customer’s payment information, and the payment status. This allows you to easily track and manage your sales.
Testing and Debugging
Overview of common issues and how to tackle
During the development and testing of your shopping cart application, you may encounter some common issues. These issues can range from incorrect data being displayed to errors in the payment processing. It’s important to identify these issues and tackle them effectively.
Conducting stress tests and debugging performance
To ensure your shopping cart application can handle a large number of users and transactions, conduct stress tests. Stress tests involve simulating a high volume of traffic and transactions to identify any performance issues. Use debugging tools and techniques to optimize the performance of your application.
Ensuring secure payment process
Security is paramount when it comes to payment processing. Ensure that your application follows best practices for securing user data and transmitting payment information securely. Utilize encryption, secure protocols, and tokenized payment processing to protect user information.
Conclusion
Summarizing the key learnings from the project
In conclusion, building a shopping cart with React.js and integrating it with Stripe for payment processing is an exciting project that allows you to explore various technologies and concepts. Throughout this tutorial, you learned how to set up the project environment, create routes and components, utilize React Context for cart management, implement a back-end server using Express, and initiate the checkout process with Stripe.
Appreciation and promotion of smaller YouTube tutorial channels
This tutorial was developed as part of a collaborative effort to promote smaller YouTube tutorial channels and provide viewers with an engaging and practical project to work on. It’s important to support smaller channels by subscribing, liking, and sharing their content to help them grow and continue creating valuable tutorials.
Encouragement for continued learning and experimentation
By completing this project, you have gained valuable experience in building a fully functional shopping cart and integrating payment processing. However, this is just the beginning of your journey as a developer. Continue learning and experimenting with new technologies and projects to further enhance your skills and expand your knowledge. Happy coding!
