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

# Atum payment lifecycle

> A payment goes through five stages: request, accept, select, deliver, confirm.

Sending a payment with Atum is coordinated by Atum's Payment Gateway. You don't have to manage any of it.

## The five stages

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
    A([Request]) --> B([Accept]) --> C([Select]) --> D([Deliver]) --> E([Confirm])
```

## Stage by stage

<Steps>
  <Step title="Submit a payment request">
    Your app sends the source account, destination account, amount, and a signature authorizing the transfer. Signing happens on your machine — Atum never sees your private key.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Atum accepts it">
    The Gateway validates and accepts the request.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Settlement operators price the route">
    Independent operators submit price quotes to fulfill the payment on the route you specified. The Gateway selects a quote automatically. You don't contact operators directly.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Funds move">
    The selected operator delivers funds to the recipient on the destination rail.
  </Step>

  <Step title="You get a settlement receipt">
    Once delivery is verified, you receive on-chain confirmation references from both the source and destination rails — verifiable records that exist independently of Atum.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Who does what

| Actor                    | Role                                                                |
| ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Payment initiator**    | Build the payment request and sign it                               |
| **Payment Gateway**      | Validate the request, coordinate quote selection, track the payment |
| **Settlement operators** | Submit a price quote for the route, move funds, deliver proof       |
| **Recipient**            | Any account on the destination rail — wallet, merchant, treasury    |

You only integrate with the **Payment Gateway**. Quote selection, multi-rail execution, and verification all run on the Atum network.

## Next steps

* [Using the CLI](/get-started/start-building/using-the-cli) — send a real payment on sandbox
* [Build with the SDK](/get-started/start-building/build-with-the-sdk) — integrate payments into your app