The three- or four-digit security code on a card, used to verify the customer has the physical card in card-not-present sales. It must never be stored after authorization.
Why it matters for your business
Terms like CVV aren't just jargon — they sit behind what you actually pay to accept payments. Understanding them is the difference between reading your statement and being at the mercy of it. If you're not sure how this shows up in your own costs, the fastest way to find out is to have someone read your statement line by line.
See what you're really paying →Related — Cards & Networks