Step 1: System Definition

Design a payment processing platform (similar to Stripe) that enables merchants (businesses) to accept online payments from customers securely and reliably. The system will handle the entire lifecycle of a payment transaction – from capturing payment details to authorizing the transaction, transferring funds, and handling post-payment events (like refunds or chargebacks). Ultimately, this “Stripe-like” system serves as a payment service provider that combines the functionality of a payment gateway and a payment processor in one integrated platform.