Online Payment Gateway
An online payment gateway is a technology platform that securely processes electronic transactions between merchants and customers, typically for e-commerce websites or mobile apps. It acts as an intermediary, encrypting sensitive payment data (like credit card details) and facilitating authorization and settlement between the merchant, customer, and financial institutions. Common examples include Stripe, PayPal, and Square.
Developers should learn about online payment gateways when building applications that require handling monetary transactions, such as e-commerce sites, subscription services, or donation platforms. They are essential for ensuring secure, compliant, and reliable payment processing, reducing fraud risks, and integrating with multiple payment methods (e.g., credit cards, digital wallets).