vocabulary:
  name: Total System Services (TSYS)
  description: >-
    Vocabulary for TSYS (Total System Services) payment processing APIs covering
    acquiring, card issuing, merchant services, and transaction lifecycle management.
  version: 1.0.0
  created: '2026-05-03'
  modified: '2026-05-03'

terms:
  - term: Authorization
    definition: >-
      The process of requesting approval from a card issuer to reserve funds for
      a specific transaction amount. Returns an authorization code if approved.
    domain: Transaction Processing
    tags:
      - Payments
      - Transactions

  - term: Capture
    definition: >-
      The process of finalizing an authorized transaction for settlement. Converts
      a reserved authorization into a billable charge.
    domain: Transaction Processing
    tags:
      - Payments
      - Transactions

  - term: Settlement
    definition: >-
      The process of transferring funds between a merchant's bank and the
      cardholder's bank after a batch of captured transactions is submitted.
    domain: Transaction Processing
    tags:
      - Payments
      - Settlement

  - term: Void
    definition: >-
      The cancellation of an authorized or captured transaction before it is
      included in a settlement batch. A voided transaction is never settled.
    domain: Transaction Processing
    tags:
      - Payments
      - Transactions

  - term: Refund
    definition: >-
      A credit transaction that returns funds to a cardholder for a previously
      settled transaction. Partial or full refunds are supported.
    domain: Transaction Processing
    tags:
      - Payments
      - Transactions

  - term: Batch
    definition: >-
      A collection of captured transactions that are submitted together for
      settlement at the end of a business day. Closing a batch triggers settlement.
    domain: Settlement
    tags:
      - Payments
      - Settlement

  - term: Merchant ID
    definition: >-
      A unique identifier assigned by TSYS to a merchant that is required in
      all transaction requests to identify the processing account.
    domain: Merchant Services
    tags:
      - Merchant Services

  - term: Card Program
    definition: >-
      A configured card issuing arrangement that defines the terms, controls,
      and parameters for a portfolio of cards issued by a financial institution.
    domain: Card Issuing
    tags:
      - Card Issuing
      - Fintech

  - term: Cardholder
    definition: >-
      The individual whose name appears on a payment card and who is authorized
      to use the card for transactions.
    domain: Card Issuing
    tags:
      - Card Issuing

  - term: Spending Controls
    definition: >-
      Configuration parameters on a card that restrict spending by amount (daily,
      monthly, per transaction), merchant category, or geographic region.
    domain: Card Issuing
    tags:
      - Card Issuing
      - Security

  - term: Dispute
    definition: >-
      A cardholder challenge to a transaction they do not recognize or believe
      is incorrect, also known as a chargeback. Filed through the issuing platform.
    domain: Card Issuing
    tags:
      - Card Issuing
      - Chargebacks

  - term: AVS
    definition: >-
      Address Verification Service: a fraud prevention tool that verifies the
      billing address provided by the cardholder against the issuer's records.
    domain: Fraud Prevention
    tags:
      - Security
      - Fraud Prevention

  - term: CVV
    definition: >-
      Card Verification Value: a 3 or 4 digit security code on a payment card
      used to verify card-not-present transactions. Never stored post-authorization.
    domain: Security
    tags:
      - Security
      - PCI DSS

  - term: PAN Token
    definition: >-
      A surrogate value that replaces the Primary Account Number (PAN / card number)
      to protect sensitive card data and reduce PCI DSS compliance scope.
    domain: Security
    tags:
      - Security
      - Tokenization

  - term: Virtual Card
    definition: >-
      A digitally issued card with a card number, expiration, and CVV but no
      physical form factor. Used for online payments and B2B virtual card programs.
    domain: Card Issuing
    tags:
      - Card Issuing
      - Digital Payments

  - term: Acquiring
    definition: >-
      The service of processing payment card transactions on behalf of a merchant
      and facilitating fund transfer from the cardholder's issuing bank.
    domain: Payment Processing
    tags:
      - Acquiring
      - Merchant Services

  - term: Payment Facilitator
    definition: >-
      A company that simplifies the merchant onboarding and payment processing
      experience by sponsoring sub-merchants under their master merchant account.
    domain: Merchant Services
    tags:
      - Merchant Services
      - Acquiring

categories:
  - name: Transaction Processing
    description: Core payment transaction lifecycle operations
    terms:
      - Authorization
      - Capture
      - Void
      - Refund
      - Settlement
      - Batch
  - name: Card Issuing
    description: Card program and cardholder management concepts
    terms:
      - Card Program
      - Cardholder
      - Spending Controls
      - Dispute
      - Virtual Card
  - name: Security and Fraud
    description: Payment security and fraud prevention concepts
    terms:
      - AVS
      - CVV
      - PAN Token
  - name: Merchant Services
    description: Merchant acquiring and service concepts
    terms:
      - Merchant ID
      - Acquiring
      - Payment Facilitator