local5.3🖤🧸 :
A gift card doesn’t actually store money physically on the card itself — instead, it works more like a key that gives access to a specific amount of money stored in a secure database managed by the store, service, or payment network that issued it (like Visa, MasterCard, Amazon, Walmart, etc.).
When you buy or load a gift card, the system assigns a unique card number (and often a PIN for added security) and creates a corresponding entry in the company’s digital records. This entry includes the card number and the amount of money that has been loaded onto it — for example, $50. The money itself is not placed onto the plastic card. Instead, the card is simply an identifier that the company’s system uses to track how much money is available for use.
When you swipe, tap, or enter the gift card number at checkout — whether it’s in-store or online — the payment system reads the card number and contacts the company’s internal server to check the balance that’s tied to that specific number. The system then determines whether the card has enough money to cover the purchase. If the balance is sufficient, the transaction is approved, and the system automatically subtracts the amount you spent from the balance associated with that card number.
This process happens in real-time, meaning the moment you make a purchase, the new balance is updated instantly in the system. If you continue using the card, each purchase reduces the remaining balance until there’s nothing left. When the balance reaches $0, the database records that the card is empty. At that point, if you try to use it again, the system will either decline the transaction or display an error message saying there are insufficient funds.
In some cases, certain gift cards are reloadable, meaning you can add more money to the card, and the system will simply update the balance tied to the card number. Others are non-reloadable, and once they hit zero, they can no longer be used.
To keep everything secure, gift cards often have protection against fraud or tampering. For instance, some cards include a scratch-off PIN area, encryption, or are linked to your identity during activation.
2025-07-30 05:33:10