Gift Card API

A Gift Card API is a programmatic interface that allows external systems and applications to create, manage, query, and redeem gift cards without manual interaction through a store’s admin panel or checkout. APIs enable automation, integration with third-party platforms, and custom front-end experiences.

Common API operations

  • Create: Issue a new gift card with a specified balance, optionally tied to a customer or order.
  • Read/Balance check: Query the current balance and status of a gift card by code or ID.
  • Redeem: Deduct a specified amount from a card’s balance, returning the new balance.
  • Top-up/Reload: Add funds to an existing card.
  • Deactivate: Disable a card (e.g., for fraud or at the holder’s request).
  • Transaction history: Retrieve the full history of charges, top-ups, and adjustments for a card.

Use cases

  • Omnichannel redemption: Allow gift cards issued online to be redeemed at physical POS systems (and vice versa) by connecting both to the same API.
  • Third-party marketplaces: Let partner platforms issue or sell your gift cards by integrating via API.
  • Mobile apps: Build gift card purchase and redemption flows into a native mobile app.
  • Corporate/B2B automation: Enable large clients to programmatically order and distribute bulk gift cards.

WooCommerce context

WooCommerce’s REST API does not include native gift card endpoints. If you’re using a gift card plugin, check whether it exposes its own REST or custom API endpoints. For custom implementations, you can register WooCommerce REST API endpoints that interact with your gift card data store, following WooCommerce’s register_rest_route pattern and authentication.