Q: merchant info and apple pay transaction

When you add a payment card to Apple Pay on a device, each combination of card and device (Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad) is given a unique Device Account Number.

When you make a purchase, the merchant's terminal receives your Device Account Number (a "token"), a one-time security code that is specific to that transaction and other data required to complete the transaction.

The merchant doesn't see your payment card number, name, address or any other personally identifying information. Also, Apple doesn't know what you purchased, from where you bought it or how much it cost.

You're welcome!

The Device Account Number is just a number, like a credit or debit card number (but it doesn't contain your credit or debit card number).

To process a payment, a merchant's terminal needs both the DAN and the one-time security code. The code verifies that a transaction originates from your device and can be checked (by the payment network or bank) before a payment is approved. Both pieces of information are provided by the Secure Element on your device. Information stored there is isolated from the operating system and is never stored on Apple's servers or backed up to iCloud.