> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://second.tech/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Send a Lightning payment

> Sends a payment to a Lightning destination. Accepts a BOLT11 invoice, BOLT12 offer, or Lightning address. The `amount_sat` field is required for Lightning addresses but optional for invoices and offers. Comments are only supported for Lightning addresses.



## OpenAPI

````yaml https://gitlab.com/ark-bitcoin/bark/-/raw/master/bark-rest/openapi.json post /api/v1/lightning/pay
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: barkd REST API
  description: >-
    A simple REST API for barkd, a wallet daemon for integrating bitcoin
    payments into your app over HTTP. Supports self-custodial Lightning, Ark,
    and on-chain out of the box.


    barkd is a long-running daemon best suited for always-on or
    high-connectivity environments like nodes, servers, desktops, and
    point-of-sale terminals.


    All endpoints return JSON. Amounts are denominated in satoshis.
  contact:
    name: Second Team
    email: hello@second.tech
  license:
    name: MIT
    identifier: MIT
  version: 0.1.4
servers: []
security:
  - bearer: []
tags:
  - name: boards
    description: Move on-chain bitcoin onto the Ark protocol.
  - name: exits
    description: Move bitcoin back on-chain without server cooperation.
  - name: fees
    description: Estimate fees for wallet operations before executing them.
  - name: lightning
    description: Create Lightning invoices and track receives.
  - name: onchain
    description: Manage barkd's on-chain bitcoin wallet.
  - name: wallet
    description: Manage Ark balances and VTXOs, send payments via Ark, LN, and on-chain.
  - name: bitcoin
    description: Query bitcoin network data.
  - name: notifications
    description: Receive real-time notifications from barkd.
paths:
  /api/v1/lightning/pay:
    post:
      tags:
        - lightning
      summary: Send a Lightning payment
      description: >-
        Sends a payment to a Lightning destination. Accepts a BOLT11 invoice,
        BOLT12 offer, or Lightning address. The `amount_sat` field is required
        for Lightning addresses but optional for invoices and offers. Comments
        are only supported for Lightning addresses.
      operationId: pay
      requestBody:
        content:
          application/json:
            schema:
              $ref: '#/components/schemas/LightningPayRequest'
        required: true
      responses:
        '200':
          description: >-
            Returns success message, optionally with preimage if payment was
            immediately settled
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/LightningPayResponse'
        '400':
          description: >-
            The provided destination is not a valid BOLT11 invoice, BOLT12
            offer, or Lightning address
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/BadRequestError'
        '500':
          description: Internal server error
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/InternalServerError'
components:
  schemas:
    LightningPayRequest:
      type: object
      required:
        - destination
      properties:
        amount_sat:
          type:
            - integer
            - 'null'
          format: int64
          description: >-
            The amount to send (in satoshis). Optional for bolt11 invoices with
            amount. This must be

            higher than the minimum fee laid out in server-configured

            [LightningSendFees](crate::cli::fees::LightningSendFees). The wallet
            must also contain enough

            funds to cover the amount plus any fees.
          minimum: 0
        comment:
          type:
            - string
            - 'null'
          description: >-
            An optional comment, only supported when paying to lightning
            addresses
        destination:
          type: string
          description: The invoice, offer, or lightning address to pay
    LightningPayResponse:
      type: object
      required:
        - message
      properties:
        message:
          type: string
          description: Success message
    BadRequestError:
      type: object
      required:
        - message
      properties:
        message:
          type: string
    InternalServerError:
      type: object
      required:
        - message
      properties:
        message:
          type: string
  securitySchemes:
    bearer:
      type: http
      scheme: bearer
      bearerFormat: AuthToken
      description: Base64url-encoded auth token

````