Now that you've signed up for a Square account, created an application, and tested some API requests, you can start building.
The following video shows how your application connects with Square sellers and how Square APIs work together.
The Square Developer platform provides a collection of APIs and a variety of development tools. Square APIs provide capabilities that let you create applications for a wide range of business needs:
- Payments - Take payments any time with flexible tools.
- Commerce - Process orders, manage catalogs, track inventory, and book reservations.
- Customers - Help sellers grow their businesses and build customer relationships.
- Staff - Integrate with team management and time-recording tools.
Square API - A collection of backend APIs that allow developers to build solutions for a wide range of business needs.
Square GraphQL - A fast and compact transfer of Square data. You can build and send test queries using GraphQL Explorer.
Square SDKs - Platform SDKs for common languages that simplify backend development.
Client payment SDKs and plugins - Square payments can be started across multiple channels, including in person on Square hardware and online. These client libraries are supported by the server-side Payments API, which completes a payment.
API Explorer - An interactive tool you can use to build, view, and send HTTP requests that call Square APIs.
API Logs - An interactive tool you can use to view your API call history when testing and debugging applications, troubleshooting API issues, and getting a real-time view of activity across integrations.
Sample applications - OAuth samples, Square SDK samples, and Square mobile samples written in common programming languages.
Webhooks - Push notifications for changes in Square account data.
Square Sandbox - An isolated sandbox API testing environment.
Did you know?
You can extend the Square data model for some Square APIs by using custom attributes.
You should enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your Square account. 2FA provides protection against unauthorized access to your account (for example, using social engineering attacks, credential stuffing, or any other account takeover (ATO) techniques).
To enable 2FA:
- Log in to the Square Dashboard.
- Choose My Business (upper right), and then choose Account settings.
- In the left pane, choose the Personal Information.
- Choose Enable 2-step verification. When prompted, choose SMS or Authentication App.
After two-step verification is enabled, if you're using a trusted device, you can select the Remember this device for 30 days checkbox after you log in. You're then only prompted for two-step verification every 30 days instead of every time.