A CVC, or Card Verification Code, is a three- or four-digit security number printed on a payment card and used to verify that the customer physically possesses the card during a transaction. It is commonly required for card-not-present (CNP) payments made online or over the phone.
Although terms like CVC, CVV, and CID are often used interchangeably, they all serve the same purpose: adding a layer of security by confirming that the person making the transaction has access to the actual card.
Banks and payment processors use the CVC as part of their fraud-prevention checks, helping reduce unauthorized purchases made with stolen card information.