What is a virtual Terminal?

When a customer is in a store then the merchant has access to the credit card and can process it though a “terminal” right next to the cash register. In the online world that is not possible though. In the online world we have “virtual terminals” which is where users give all their personal information and credit card information. This information is used to verify that this is really the owner of the card. If the information the customer gave matches what the credit card company has on record then the sale will go though.