# Lightning payments

With a Lightning address (like `you@your-wallet.com`), send21 can confirm Lightning payments without ever holding them. The invoice comes from the receiver's own wallet provider and pays the receiver directly.

## How it works

- The receiver gives a Lightning address, on a draft (`receiverAddress` with `paymentMethod: "Lightning"`) or as a pay-link option (`method: "Lightning"`).
- When the payer is ready, send21 asks that address (LNURL-pay) for an invoice of the exact amount and checks the invoice's amount and network.
- The payer scans the invoice with any Lightning wallet. The money goes straight to the receiver's wallet.
- If the provider supports LUD-21, send21 polls its verify URL and confirms the payment once it returns a preimage that hashes to the invoice's payment hash. `lightningConfirmable` on the draft tells you in advance.

## Limits

- Not every Lightning wallet provider supports LUD-21. Without it the payment works but is not confirmed automatically.
- A pasted BOLT11 invoice is never confirmed automatically.
- Invoices expire; the rate lock ends with the invoice. Re-quote the draft for a fresh invoice.
- The send21 fee is billed to the creator's account and settled on-chain later; a Lightning invoice cannot carry a fee output.

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Source: https://send21.io/docs/lightning