Tokenization is a powerful security process that replaces sensitive data, like a full credit card number, with a unique, non-sensitive equivalent called a "token." This token has no external or exploitable meaning or value. It can be used for processing payments without exposing the actual card details. If a data breach occurs, only the useless [...]

Understanding these terms helps you protect your business and your customers. PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) PCI DSS is a set of mandatory security standards for any organization that accepts, processes, stores, or transmits credit card information. The goal is to maintain a secure environment to reduce credit card fraud. These standards [...]

A digital wallet (or e-wallet) is an application on a smart device (like a phone or watch) that securely stores virtual versions of your credit and debit cards. It allows you to make contactless payments in stores using NFC technology, as well as faster checkouts online. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are popular [...]

A Card-Not-Present (CNP) transaction occurs when the customer's card is not physically present at the time of purchase. This includes online purchases, payments made over the phone, and transactions where the card details are manually keyed into a terminal. CNP transactions carry a higher risk of fraud, so they have higher processing fees. Frequently Asked [...]

A Card-Present (CP) transaction is any payment where the customer's physical card (or a digital wallet on their phone) is present at the point of sale and is electronically read by a payment device. This includes inserting a chip card, tapping a contactless card, or using a mobile wallet like Apple Pay. These transactions are [...]

Manual card entry is the process of keying in a customer's credit card information—card number, expiration date, and CVC code—by hand into a payment terminal or app. This is considered a Card-Not-Present (CNP) transaction, even if the customer is physically there, because the card itself is not electronically read by the device. Frequently Asked Questions [...]

Chip and PIN is a method of verifying a cardholder's identity during an EMV chip transaction. Instead of signing a receipt, the customer inserts their chip card into a terminal and enters their four-digit Personal Identification Number (PIN). This provides two layers of security: something the customer has (the chip card) and something the customer [...]

EMV is the global standard for credit and debit card payments based on chip card technology. The "chip" is a small, metallic square on your card that contains a microprocessor. This technology provides much stronger security and fraud protection than the old magnetic stripes because the chip generates a unique, one-time transaction code for every [...]

NFC (Near Field Communication) is the short-range wireless technology that makes Tap to Pay and contactless payments possible. It allows two devices—like a customer's smartphone and the merchant's payment terminal (or in this case, your phone running Charge for Stripe)—to exchange information when they are brought within a few centimeters of each other. Frequently Asked [...]

Tap to Pay, also known as contactless payment, is a secure method for making purchases using a credit card, debit card, or a smart device (like a phone or watch) without needing to swipe or insert a card. The technology uses Near Field Communication (NFC) to transmit payment information over a short distance. Charge for [...]