Glossary
Authorization and capture: how card payments are approved and collected
Authorization asks the card issuer to approve a payment and reserve the amount on the cardholder's account. Capture is the later instruction to collect the authorized amount, which sends the transaction into clearing and settlement. Merchants capture immediately for digital goods, or later for shipped goods, and can capture part of the amount or void an authorization they no longer need.
- Authorization and capture
- Authorization is the issuer's approval and reservation of funds for a card payment; capture is the merchant's instruction to collect the authorized amount.
When should you capture later?
Delayed capture fits cases where the final amount or delivery is not yet known: physical goods captured on shipping, hotels and car rentals, and marketplaces confirming stock. Digital goods and services are usually captured at once.
What are partial captures, voids and expiry?
The authorization lifecycle has several outcomes.
- Partial capture: collect less than authorized, for example when an item is out of stock.
- Void or reversal: cancel an authorization before capture, which releases the hold.
- Expiry: authorizations expire after a period set by scheme rules and the issuer, after which you need a new authorization.
- Refund: returns money after capture.
How does OrsunPay handle authorization and capture?
OrsunPay is a payment orchestration platform: you keep your own contracts with licensed providers (for example Stripe, Adyen or Worldpay), and OrsunPay is not a payment institution, acquirer or merchant of record and does not hold or transmit funds. OrsunPay exposes authorize, capture, partial capture and void in one API across connected providers that support them. For OrsunPay pricing, see the pricing page at /pricing.
Frequently asked questions
What is an authorization hold?
The amount reserved on the cardholder's account after authorization, before capture.
How long does an authorization last?
It depends on card scheme rules, the merchant category and the issuer, so check your provider's documentation.
Is a voided authorization a refund?
No: a void cancels the authorization before any money is collected.