Point of sale (POS) is the physical or virtual point where a customer makes a payment. "POS" can refer to the physical hardware and software used to facilitate these transactions.
POS hardware is the physical equipment used to complete transactions, such as cash registers, barcode scanners, receipt printers, touchscreen monitors, card readers and smart terminals.
POS software manages the transaction process, calculates the total amount owed, processes payment methods, and generates receipts. It may also provide inventory management, sales reporting, and other business management features.
A terminal point of sale is a handheld device used to accept card payments.