# Sources and customers

Learn how to attach and manage sources with Customer objects.

> We deprecated the Sources API and plan to remove support for local payment methods. If you currently handle any local payment methods using the Sources API, you must [migrate them to the Payment Methods API](https://docs.stripe.com/payments/payment-methods/transitioning.md).
> 
> While we don’t plan to remove support for card payments, we recommend replacing any use of the Sources API with the [PaymentMethods API](https://docs.stripe.com/api/payment_methods.md), which provides access to our latest features and payment method types.

A [Source](https://docs.stripe.com/api.md#sources) object can be either [single-use or reusable](https://docs.stripe.com/sources.md#single-use-or-reusable), as indicated by its `usage` parameter. While sources can be charged directly, *reusable* sources should always be attached to a [Customer](https://docs.stripe.com/api.md#customers) object for later reuse. Attaching reusable sources to `Customer` objects allows you to present your customers with a list of reusable payment methods that they have previously used with your app or website.

## Reusable sources

Certain payment methods (for example, [SEPA Direct Debit](https://docs.stripe.com/sources/sepa-debit.md)) support reusable sources, so that you can create additional payments without your customer’s needing to complete the payment process again. A source that you can reuse has its `usage` parameter set to `reusable`.

You must [attach](https://docs.stripe.com/api.md#attach_source) a reusable source to a `Customer` object before making a charge request. If you charge a reusable source without first attaching it, the source is consumed (its status changes from `chargeable` to `consumed`). Consumed sources can’t be used for further payments.

### Attaching a source to a new Customer object

You can create a `Customer` object and attach a source in one API call. This is useful if this is the first time you’re seeing this customer.

```curl
curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/customers \
  -u "<<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>:" \
  --data-urlencode "email=paying.user@example.com" \
  -d source=src_18eYalAHEMiOZZp1l9ZTjSU0
```

The source becomes the `Customer` object’s [default source](https://docs.stripe.com/api.md#customer_object-default_source), since this is the customer’s first and only payment method. The default source is automatically selected if you make a charge request using the `customer` parameter without specifying a `source`.

### Attaching a Source to an existing Customer object

When you [update](https://docs.stripe.com/api.md#update_customer) a `Customer` object that has a default source, this automatically detaches the existing source, and adds the provided source as the new default. To add a source without replacing the existing default, use the [attach](https://docs.stripe.com/api.md#attach_source) method, as shown below.

#### curl

```bash
curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/customers/cus_AFGbOSiITuJVDs/sources \
  -u <<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>: \
  -d "source"="src_18eYalAHEMiOZZp1l9ZTjSU0"
```

Here, because a default source might already exist for the `Customer` object, the newly attached source doesn’t become the default source. However, you can change the default source by updating the `Customer` object and specifying the source as a value for `default_source`.

```curl
curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/customers/cus_AFGbOSiITuJVDs \
  -u "<<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>:" \
  -d default_source=src_18eYalAHEMiOZZp1l9ZTjSU0
```

### Charging an attached source

You must specify both the `Customer` object and the source when making a charge request.

#### curl

```bash
curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/charges \
  -u <<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>: \
  -d amount="1099" \
  -d currency="eur" \
  -d customer=cus_AFGbOSiITuJVDs \
  -d source=src_18eYalAHEMiOZZp1l9ZTjSU0
```

If you attempt to charge a `Customer` object without specifying a source, Stripe uses the customer’s default source.

### Detaching a source

If you need to remove a source from a particular `Customer` object, you can [detach the source](https://docs.stripe.com/api.md#detach_source). Doing so changes the source’s status to `consumed`, so it can’t be used once detached.

## Single-use sources

Single-use sources must be created each time a customer makes a payment, and can’t be reused. For that reason, we don’t recommend that you permanently attach them to customers.

If you want to associate a payment with a particular `Customer` object, you can include a `customer` parameter when making a charge request with a source, even if the source isn’t attached.

#### curl

```bash
curl https://api.stripe.com/v1/charges \
  -u <<YOUR_SECRET_KEY>>: \
  -d amount="1099" \
  -d currency="eur" \
  -d customer=cus_AFGbOSiITuJVDs \
  -d source=src_18eYalAHEMiOZZp1l9ZTjSU0
```

The resulting `Charge` object references both the `Customer` and `Source` objects, even if they’re not directly related to one another.

## See also

- [Supported payment methods on Sources](https://docs.stripe.com/sources.md)
- [Best practices for using Sources](https://docs.stripe.com/sources/best-practices.md)
- [Cloning saved payment methods](https://docs.stripe.com/connect/cloning-customers-across-accounts.md)
- [Sources API reference](https://docs.stripe.com/api.md#sources)