# Process incoming webhooks with event notification handlers

In each of our SDKs, we’ve created a specialized class that encapsulates the mechanics of parsing and validating a Stripe webhook. Event notification handlers take care of validating, parsing, and routing incoming webhooks to your business logic.

To use this feature, you must write a function for each event type you want to handle. After you register these functions on the handler, Stripe will call them when you receive the corresponding event notification.

## Before you begin

You must use one of the following SDK versions (or higher) to use event notification handlers.

| Language | GA | Public Preview | Private Preview |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Python | `v15.6.0` | `v14.2.0b1` | `v15.2.0a3` |
| Ruby | `v19.6.0` | `v18.2.0-beta.1` | `v19.2.0-alpha.3` |
| PHP | `v21.3.0` | `v19.2.0-beta.1` | `v20.2.0-alpha.4` |
| Go | `v86.4.0` | `v84.2.0-beta.1` | `v85.2.0-alpha.3` |
| Node | `v22.6.0` | `v20.2.0-beta.1` | `v22.2.0-alpha.4` |
| .NET | `v52.4.0` | `v50.2.0-beta.1` | `v51.2.0-alpha.3` |
| Java | `v33.4.0` | `v31.2.0-beta.1` | `v32.2.0-alpha.3` |

## Write a fallback callback

Write a function that runs whenever a dedicated callback hasn’t been registered for a specific event type. It will receive the `EventNotification`, plus a `StripeClient` and additional information about the event.

This function might log the fact that you received an unexpected event or throw an error to alert you to the unexpected state. You can also add business logic in this function if you’re handling events that your SDK doesn’t have types for.

#### Python

```python
def fallback_callback(notif: EventNotification, client: StripeClient, details: UnhandledNotificationDetails):
    print(f'Got an unhandled event of type {notif.type}!')
```

As part of your migration, consider moving all of your [webhook endpoint](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks.md) code into this function. Then, you can migrate individual event types to their own functions.

## Initialize your handler

In your [webhook endpoint](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks.md), initialize an `EventNotificationHandler`, passing it your fallback callback. There’s a convenience method on `StripeClient` to simplify this step.

#### Webhook Endpoint

If you’re writing a traditional [webhook endpoint](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks.md), you must pass your webhook secret to the handler constructor so the SDK can verify the authenticity of the webhook.

#### Python

```python
client = StripeClient(api_key)
handler = client.notification_handler(webhook_secret, fallback_callback)
```

#### Cloud Provider

If you’re using a cloud provider (such as [Amazon EventBridge](https://docs.stripe.com/event-destinations/eventbridge.md) or [Azure Event Grid](https://docs.stripe.com/event-destinations/eventgrid.md)), then there’s no verification needed. Use the `*WithoutVerification` version of the handler constructor to get the correct method signatures.

#### Python

```python
client = StripeClient(api_key)
handler = client.notification_handler_without_verification(fallback_callback)
```

## Write & register a callback

Next, write a function responsible for handling a specific event type. It uses the [event types](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks.md?snapshot-or-thin=thin) released with the `Clover` API version in September 2025.

Your callback will receive the event notification cast to the correct class. You’ll also get a `StripeClient`, bound to the [context](https://docs.stripe.com/context.md) of the notification, which makes it easy to make additional API calls without juggling account ids.

#### Python

```python
# can be anywhere in your codebase
@handler.on_v1_billing_meter_error_report_triggered
def handle_meter_error(
    notif: V1BillingMeterErrorReportTriggeredEventNotification,
    client: StripeClient,
):
    event = notif.fetch_event()
    print(f"Err! No meter found: {event.data.developer_message_summary}")
```

You can register zero or more callbacks. If you don’t register any, all events will be routed to your fallback callback.

## Process events

Send incoming `POST` bodies into the handler. This replaces most of the original code in your webhook endpoint.

#### Webhook Endpoint

If you’re writing a traditional [webhook endpoint](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks.md), you must pass the `Stripe-Signature` header to `.handle()` so the SDK can verify the authenticity of the webhook.

#### Python

```python
@app.route("/webhook", methods=["POST"])
def webhook():
    webhook_body = request.data
    sig_header = request.headers.get("Stripe-Signature")

    try:
        handler.handle(webhook_body, sig_header)
        return jsonify(success=True), 200
    except Exception as e:
        return jsonify(error=str(e)), 500
```

#### Cloud Provider

If you’re using a cloud provider (such as [Amazon EventBridge](https://docs.stripe.com/event-destinations/eventbridge.md) or [Azure Event Grid](https://docs.stripe.com/event-destinations/eventgrid.md)), then there’s no verification needed. Your handler’s `.handle()` method accepts only the webhook payload. It handles unwrapping the inner `Event` from the cloud provider’s envelope.

#### Python

```python
@app.route("/webhook", methods=["POST"])
def webhook():
    try:
        handler.handle(request.data)
        return jsonify(success=True), 200
    except Exception as e:
        return jsonify(error=str(e)), 500
```

## See also

- [Using thin events](https://docs.stripe.com/event-destinations.md#thin-events)
- [Receive Stripe events in your webhook endpoint](https://docs.stripe.com/webhooks.md)