how does apple pay work

Apple Pay is a mobile payment service by Apple that allows users to make secure, contactless payments in stores, in apps, and on the web using their Apple devices like iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and Mac. To pay in stores, users hold their authenticated Apple device near a contactless payment terminal equipped with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. Authentication is done with biometrics such as Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode, or by double-clicking a button on Apple Watch. When a payment is made, Apple replaces the user's actual credit or debit card number with a device-specific token, enhancing privacy and security by ensuring the card number is never shared with the merchant or stored on Apple servers. Apple Pay also supports "Express Mode" for public transport, allowing faster transactions without authentication in some cases. The service is widely accepted at retailers that take contactless payments and can also be used for online purchases, streamlining checkout by not requiring entry of card details each time. Users add cards to Apple Wallet via taking a photo of the card, manual entry, or through their card issuer's app, and can use Apple Cash as well. Apple does not track the transaction details, which remain between the customer, merchant, and banks. If a device is lost, Apple Pay can be remotely disabled via Find My iPhone. In summary, Apple Pay works by using NFC for communication between the Apple device and payment terminal, tokenizing card information for security, and authenticating users biometrically or via passcode for transactions, enabling convenient and private payments in many scenarios.