POSterminals

POS terminals, or point-of-sale terminals, are electronic devices used at points of sale to authorize and process payment transactions. They connect to payment processors or banks so merchants can accept cards and other forms of payment, and they may be integrated with a wider point-of-sale system.

A typical terminal includes a card reader (magstripe, chip-and-PIN, or contactless), a PIN pad or touchscreen, a receipt printer, a display, and network connectivity. Some models are handheld or tablet-based (mobile POS), and many support wireless connections and cloud-based software.

During a transaction, the terminal reads payment data, transmits it securely to an acquirer via payment networks, and receives an authorization response. Modern terminals support EMV and NFC technologies, tokenization, and point-to-point encryption to protect sensitive information.

Security and compliance are central to POS terminals. Merchants must adhere to PCI DSS and, where applicable, PCI PTS standards, and providers employ encryption, secure elements, and continual software updates to mitigate fraud and data breaches.

Common deployments include countertop devices in retail, integrated terminals in hospitality, and mobile or tablet-based systems for on-site sales. The market increasingly favors mobile, cloud-connected, and contactless payment options as consumer preferences evolve.