> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.smartretry.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Terminals

> Understanding terminals and how they scope your payment operations.

A **terminal** in SmartRetry is a merchant account configuration that represents a specific payment setup. Each terminal has a unique 6-character alphanumeric ID - the `terminal_friendly_id` - that appears in the path of every API request you make.

<Info>
  Your `terminal_friendly_id` is provided by SmartRetry during onboarding. Contact your account manager if you need to retrieve it.
</Info>

## Why terminals exist

Terminals let SmartRetry apply the right routing logic, acquirer configuration, and retry strategy for a specific business context. A single API key can be associated with multiple terminals, each with its own settings.

You might use separate terminals for:

* **Different merchants** - if you operate as a payment facilitator or manage accounts on behalf of others
* **Different brands** - for businesses with multiple storefronts or product lines
* **Different business units** - to keep transaction data and reporting separate between departments
* **Different acquirer configurations** - to route specific transaction types through specific acquirers

## Terminal ID in API requests

The `terminal_friendly_id` is a path parameter on every payment endpoint. Replace `{terminal_friendly_id}` in the URL with your 6-character ID.

```
POST https://terminal.smartretry.com/v1/payments/sale/{terminal_friendly_id}
```

### Example

If your terminal ID is `TERM01`, your sale endpoint is:

```bash theme={null}
curl --request POST \
  --url https://terminal.smartretry.com/v1/payments/sale/TERM01 \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header 'x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --data '{
    "merchant_transaction_id": "txn-a1b2c3d4-e5f6-7890-abcd-ef1234567890",
    "amount": 2500,
    "currency": "EUR",
    "order": {
      "payment_instrument": {
        "card_number": "5500005555555559",
        "expiry_month": 8,
        "expiry_year": 2026,
        "payment_method": "cards"
      },
      "payer": {
        "first_name": "Carlos",
        "last_name": "Mendez",
        "email": "carlos.mendez@example.com"
      }
    }
  }'
```

## Multi-terminal setups

If you process payments across multiple acquirers, brands, or regions, SmartRetry can provision multiple terminals under a single account. Each terminal can have its own acquirer connections and retry configuration.

<Note>
  When working with multiple payment providers, SmartRetry recommends keeping the integration on your side rather than routing through a single provider. Providers typically have an incentive to keep transactions within their own network, which can limit SmartRetry's ability to optimize across acquirers.
</Note>

## Getting your terminal ID

SmartRetry provides your `terminal_friendly_id` during the onboarding process. If you need additional terminals - for example, to support a new brand or acquirer - contact your SmartRetry account manager.