Payment gateway

A payment gateway is an online service or software solution that securely processes payment transactions for businesses and customers. Essentially, it acts as a middleman between your website (or e-commerce platform) and the bank or credit/debit card issuer, authorizing and confirming transactions.

When a customer initiates a purchase online, a payment gateway instantly encrypts sensitive credit card details, securely sends them to the relevant financial institutions, verifies funds availability, and returns a confirmation or rejection message to the platform—often within seconds.

Payment gateways offer merchants important advantages:

• Security through encryption and fraud detection tools
• Convenience in handling multiple types of payment methods
• Reliable and speedy transaction processing, improving customer experience

Given today's fast-moving online marketplace and ever-evolving digital payments landscape, selecting the right payment gateway can significantly impact customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Before choosing a payment gateway, businesses must consider factors including transaction fees, compatibility with their e-commerce platform, global payment acceptance, and ease of integration.

To explore this topic further, check out Stripe's guide to payment gateways.