# What is a payment gateway?

> A payment gateway is the intermediary service that handles the bank transaction between the merchant site and the customer's bank, guaranteeing the security of the exchange.

- Source canonique : [https://allaux.fr/en/glossaire/passerelle-de-paiement](https://allaux.fr/en/glossaire/passerelle-de-paiement)
- Langue : EN
- Dernière mise à jour : 2026-09-30

## Its role in the checkout flow

At the payment step, the customer is either redirected to the gateway or enters their details in a module integrated into the store (Stripe, PayPal, or a card acquirer such as Payplug, HiPay, Mercanet or Systempay depending on the case). It's the gateway, not the merchant site, that processes the sensitive bank data, which reduces the merchant's responsibility for payment security.

## What a merchant needs to know

Every gateway integrates with the store via a payment module, on both PrestaShop and WooCommerce. Once payment has been processed, the gateway generally informs the site of the result via a webhook, which lets the order move automatically to the paid status without manual intervention.

## Gateway and payment method

> The gateway is the technical service that processes the transaction; the payment method (card, bank transfer, instalments) is the option the customer chooses within that gateway.

## FAQ

### What's the difference between a payment gateway and a payment method?

The gateway is the technical service that processes the bank transaction; the payment method is the option the customer chooses, such as card payment or instalments.

### Does the payment gateway store bank data on the merchant site?

No, in principle bank data passes through and is stored on the gateway side, not on the merchant site's server, which limits the merchant's security obligations for that data.

### How should you choose a payment gateway for a store?

By comparing the payment methods offered, compatibility with the platform used (PrestaShop, WooCommerce), and the contractual terms, which vary from one provider to another.