gateway
GAYT-way
/ˈɡeɪtweɪ/
A service that authorizes and processes credit card or direct payments for e-businesses.
It acts as the secure middleman between the merchant's website and the bank.
The story behind the word. In medieval times, a gateway was a literal opening in a wall. In computing, it became a metaphor for a point where data moves from one network to another. In e-commerce, it is the 'gate' your money must pass through to reach the seller.
Word relationships
- processor: A processor handles the actual money movement; a gateway is the digital 'door' that sends the request.
Commonly confused with
- checkout: The checkout is the page the user sees; the gateway is the hidden software that talks to the bank.
Collocations
- payment gateway
- secure gateway
- api gateway
Example sentences
- "The payment gateway failed to authorize the transaction due to a server timeout." Technical requirements for a website.
Memory hook
The 'Gate' that lets your 'Way' to payment open. The digital bouncer for your credit card.
When not to use
Do not use this to describe the physical delivery of goods; it is purely for digital data and money.
Fun facts
- PayPal was one of the first companies to popularize the concept of a digital payment gateway for the masses.
Explore more words
disintermediation, intermediary, merchant, transaction, mediation, broker
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