Capture

What is Capture?

Capture is the step in the payment lifecycle where a merchant finalizes an authorized transaction to initiate the transfer of funds. It follows the authorization stage, where the funds were reserved but not yet moved.

Once a transaction is captured, it is added to a batch for settlement. In many e-commerce setups, capture happens automatically, but some businesses wait until a product has shipped before capturing the payment.

Why It Matters

• Triggers the actual movement of money from the customer to the merchant

• Allows merchants to delay payment until an order is ready for fulfillment

• Prevents authorization holds from expiring and losing the reserved funds

• Essential for accurate financial reporting and revenue recognition