paying
Paying is the act of providing money or other agreed value to another party to obtain goods, services, or to fulfill an obligation. Payments can be made immediately in cash or indirectly through credit arrangements, and they are part of broader payment systems that move value between parties and settle accounts.
Common payment methods include physical cash, checks, bank transfers (such as ACH or wire transfers), and card
Payment systems involve multiple actors—payers, payees, banks, processors, and networks—that handle authorization, clearing, and settlement. Processing
Security and consumer protections are central to paying. Measures include strong authentication, encryption, tokenization, and compliance
Trends and considerations in paying include the move toward cashless economies, the growth of real-time payment