Offline Payment Systems
Offline payment systems are methods for processing financial transactions without requiring a real-time internet connection to a central server or payment network. They enable payments to be authorized, recorded, and settled later when connectivity is restored, often using local storage or batch processing. This is crucial in environments with unreliable internet, such as remote areas, events, or during network outages.
Developers should learn about offline payment systems when building applications for retail, hospitality, transportation, or emerging markets where internet access is intermittent. They are essential for ensuring business continuity and customer convenience in scenarios like mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) systems, ticketing apps, or e-commerce platforms in low-connectivity regions. Understanding this concept helps in designing resilient, user-friendly payment solutions that comply with security standards like PCI DSS.