Glossary
Payment capture
The instruction that converts an approved authorization into a request for funds to actually move to the merchant.
Capture tells the processor to collect the previously authorized amount. Merchants that ship goods often authorize at checkout and capture at fulfilment, while digital services usually authorize and capture together.
Partial capture — taking less than the authorized amount — is common where the final basket differs from the initial order. The uncaptured remainder is released back to the customer's available balance.
What it covers in practice
- Capture can be immediate or delayed
- Partial capture releases the unused authorization
- Uncaptured authorizations expire and must be re-authorized