In today’s digital economy, seamless payment experiences are essential for businesses of all sizes. Whether it’s e-commerce, subscription services, or mobile apps, customers expect fast and secure transactions. This is where APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) come into play. APIs act as the bridge between your application and payment providers, enabling businesses to integrate multiple payment options with minimal effort. What is an API in Payments? An API is a set of rules and protocols that allows two systems to communicate. In the context of payments, APIs connect your website or app with a payment gateway or payment processor, allowing you to: Accept payments online (credit/debit cards, wallets, bank transfers). Verify transactions in real time. Manage refunds and recurring payments. Ensure secure and encrypted data transfer. How Payment Integration Works Payment integration through APIs typically follows this flow: Customer Action: A customer chooses a product and proceeds to checkout. Merchant Application: The merchant’s website or app sends payment details securely via API. Payment Gateway: The API forwards the request to the payment gateway (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, Telebirr, Flutterwave). Payment Processor/Bank: The gateway communicates with banks or card networks to authorize the transaction. Response: The status (success/failure) is sent back via API, updating the merchant app instantly.

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