A CVV localization test verifies that the card security code field on a checkout form works in every locale and for every card network you accept. The test covers four areas: the translated field label, the network-specific name of the code, the input behavior on local keyboards, and the error text shown in each language. Run it in a sandbox before launch, then repeat it whenever you add a locale or a payment method.

cvv test locale

What the test checks

• Label translation. The field label and helper text appear in the shopper's language and stay accurate.
• Network naming. Visa prints CVV2, Mastercard prints CVC2, American Express prints a 4-digit CID, and Discover prints a cardmember ID. The label should match the card type in use.
• Input behavior. The field accepts 3 digits for most networks and 4 for American Express, opens a numeric keypad on mobile, and blocks letters.
• Error messages. Validation text appears in the correct language, points to the field, and does not echo back what the shopper typed.

Prerequisites

• A staging environment connected to a payment gateway sandbox.
• Sandbox test card numbers for each network you support, including one expired and one declining card.
• A list of every locale in production, with the language and number format for each.
• A device matrix that includes at least one iOS and one Android phone, a desktop browser, and a right-to-left locale if you support one.
• Access to a screen reader (VoiceOver, TalkBack, or NVDA).

How to run the test

1. List every locale and every card network your checkout supports in a spreadsheet with one row per combination.
2. Set the browser or device language to the first locale in the list.
3. Add an item to the cart and open the payment step.
4. Confirm the security code label is translated and grammatically correct.
5. Enter a test Visa number and check that the label reads CVV2 or the local equivalent.
6. Enter a test American Express number and confirm the field accepts 4 digits and the label switches to CID.
7. Tap the field on a phone and confirm a numeric keypad opens, not a full text keyboard.
8. Submit a 2-digit value and read the error message aloud in the target language.
9. Submit a valid 3-digit value and confirm the order completes in the sandbox.
10. Run the screen reader over the field and confirm it announces the label, the required state, and the error text.
11. Switch to an RTL locale and confirm the field, label, and cursor align to the right.
12. Repeat steps 2 through 11 for each remaining locale in the list.

Pass criteria

A combination passes when the label is correctly translated, the field length matches the network, the keyboard is numeric, the error message is localized and announced by a screen reader, and the order completes. Log every failure with the locale, browser, card network, and a screenshot.

CVV Test Translation Guide: How to Buy CVV and Ensure Its Validity

Security notes

The security code is sensitive authentication data. Never write it to logs, analytics events, or your database after authorization, and mask it in any support tool that can view an order. Test only with sandbox card numbers, never with a real cardholder's data.

cvv test i18n