User Guide

PayPal Payments Standard Button Manager API Overview
Button Hosting
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10 April 2012 Button Manager NVP API
Button Hosting
The Button Manager API can create four kinds of buttons: hosted, encrypted, clear text, and
token buttons. Buttons that you can view on the My Saved Buttons page of your PayPal profile
are called hosted buttons.
 Hosted buttons are stored on PayPal. The parameters associated with this kind of button
are secure.
Hosted buttons provide the greatest flexibility because you can instruct PayPal to change
them dynamically, and PayPal maintains information about their state, such as the
inventory level associated with the button.
NOTE: You cannot use hosted buttons with Hosted Sole Solution; you should use token
buttons instead.
 Encrypted buttons are not stored on PayPal. The parameters associated with this kind of
button are encrypted.
Encrypted buttons are similar to hosted buttons with regard to secure operation; however,
you must update the web pages that use an encrypted button each time the button or its
associated information changes. You should use an encrypted button only if a hosted
button cannot be used.
 Clear text buttons are not stored on PayPal. The parameters associated with this kind of
button are not encrypted.
Clear text buttons are not hosted and are not encrypted. They can be used dynamically
because you can change the value of a parameter “on the fly.” However, if you use them,
recognize the risk that sensitive information can be altered or stolen.
 Token buttons are not stored on PayPal. They are only used with Hosted Solution and the
parameters associated with this kind of button are secure.
Token buttons are dynamic and initiate the Hosted Solution checkout flow. They have a
lifetime of approximately 2 hours if not used.
Hosted Button Manipulation
When you create a hosted button, the response includes an ID that allows you to manipulate
the button using the Button Manager API. Do not confuse a hosted button with a button used
as part of Hosted Solution, which is a product that supports token, encrypted, and cleartext
buttons.
With hosted buttons, you can:
 Get a list of all hosted buttons, which lets you identify buttons for further programmatic
manipulation
 Get details about a hosted button, which lets you to identify the parameters and values
associated with a button