How cards work
See how a credit or debit card payment works online, step by step.
Cards are one of the most popular ways to pay online, with broad global reach. There are different types of cards and several steps in the process. To build a Stripe integration that supports all of your customers, see what goes on behind the scenes of a card payment.
Checking card details
Stripe checks that the details provided are formatted correctly (e.g., the expiry date is not in the past). There is no guarantee that the card itself is valid yet.
Customer authentication
Some banks, especially in regulated regions like Europe and India, may prompt the customer to authenticate a purchase (e.g., by texting the customer a code to enter on the bank's website).
Authorization
The bank checks for sufficient funds and, if successful, holds the amount on the customer’s account to guarantee it for the merchant.
Capture
The money moves from the issuing bank to the merchant's account.
