When talking about transactions, we must consider both the type of transaction and the operation that was performed. There are credit card transactions, for example, but also other types, like alternative payment transactions (if configured), like WeChat and Alipay transactions, and bank transfers. One type of transaction actually works the other way (money flows from you to the customer): this is called a chargeback. As for operations, they don’t always involve the flow of money. Below is a list of operations that you could see, and what they mean.
Operation | What it means |
|---|---|
Authorize (authorization) | A check with the issuing bank that sufficient funds exist in order to be able to proceed with a sale. The authorization operation also makes sure the credit card has not been reported lost or stolen. If authorization clears, the funds are reserved for settlement (for a period of time that depends on the issuing bank) |
Capture | A green light for a given authorization to go through at the next available settlement period. Depending on the acquirer, multiple captures are permitted on a transaction, but the sum of captured amounts must not exceed the initial authorize amount |
Cancel (cancellation) | This operation reverses an authorization, before a capture is made. No sale will show up in your customer’s account |
Sale | Both the authorization and capture in one transaction. This is the most common type of operation |
3-D Secure check | A check with the credit card issuer to see if the cardholder is enrolled in 3DS, an industry standard for online shopping security. Customers enrolled in 3DS must authenticate with their bank during a purchase. This can be done via banking app, web page, SMS etc. EU regulations now warrant the 3D Secure v2 workflow to be followed if this check passes. |
Rebill | Charging your customer a consecutive time for a recurring order. Rebills must be connected to an original sale (or authorization or capture). |
Refund | A reimbursement, be it whole or partial, from you to a consumer, for a transaction that was already settled. Refunds can me made on sales (or captures) and rebills. The amount will show up in your customer’s account as a credit. Refunds are less painful than chargebacks, typically, because the acquiring bank does not need to get involved, which can cause extra fees to be generated. |
...