Glossary
Capture
Capture is the merchant's instruction to collect an authorised amount: the acquirer takes the captured sum into clearing, and the cardholder's hold becomes a debit. In a one-step sale authorisation and capture happen in the same request; in a two-step payment the merchant authorises first and captures later, when the goods ship or the service is confirmed, within the hold period, for the full amount or a part of it.
One step or two
One step suits digital goods and services delivered at once. Two steps suit orders that may change or be cancelled before delivery, hotel stays, rentals and marketplaces that confirm stock first: the money is reserved, and the merchant collects only what it delivers. Capturing late or never costs nothing beyond the authorisation fees; capturing without delivering is the fastest way to chargebacks.
Partial and multiple captures
Schemes allow capturing less than authorised, and some allow several captures against one authorisation, for orders shipped in parts. The acquirer’s support and fees differ, so a platform exposes the capability per terminal and the merchant’s integration must handle the remaining hold.
On the platform
Partial captures go through the provider that took the payment, where its interface allows them; the journal records each step a provider reports with its amount, the ledger books the captured sum, and the merchant is notified by webhook at each step.
Updated: 2026-11-08