A payment gateway is a technology that allows merchants to accept electronic payments from customers. It acts as a middleman between the merchant's website and the payment processor to securely transmit payment information. Payment gateways encrypt sensitive information such as credit card numbers to ensure that it is transmitted securely.
When a customer makes a purchase on a merchant's website, the payment gateway securely collects the customer's payment information and sends it to the payment processor. The payment processor then verifies the customer's payment information and sends an authorization or decline message back to the payment gateway. The payment gateway then sends the authorization or decline message back to the merchant's website, allowing the transaction to be completed or declined.
Some popular payment gateways include PayPal, Stripe, Authorize.net, and Braintree. Each payment gateway has its own set of features and pricing, so it's important to research and compare different options to find the best fit for your business.
Integrating a payment gateway into your website typically involves creating an account with the payment gateway provider, configuring the payment gateway settings, and adding the payment gateway code to your website's checkout page. Many payment gateway providers offer documentation and support to help with the integration process.