Subscriptions
A subscription is the running record of what a customer is entitled to, over time. Orders create and change subscriptions; rating and billing read from them. A subscription holds service instances, each backed by a charge from the catalog.
The subscription lifecycle
A subscription moves through a small set of states. Charges fire based on the current state and the charge kind.
Subscription lifecycle
- Created holds the services but does not rate yet.
- Active is where recurring charges apply each period and usage charges match incoming events. One-shot subscription charges fire on activation.
- Suspended pauses rating without ending the subscription.
- Terminated stops rating. One-shot termination charges fire here, and proration settles the final period.
What lives on a subscription
| Element | Role |
|---|---|
| Service instance | One subscribed product, with its charge instances |
| Charge instance | A live charge (recurring, one-shot, or usage) with its pricing |
| Subscription date | When rating starts |
| Billing account | Where invoices are produced and the billing cycle is set |
| Terms | Commitment, renewal, and billing-period rules |
How subscriptions get created
Subscriptions are created and changed through orders, not directly. An order captures intent (subscribe, upgrade, terminate), validates it, and applies the change to the subscription. See Orders & subscriptions for the order flow and Terms & billing periods for how commitment and renewal rules shape the subscription.