A gift card is a prepaid, stored-value card or electronic token with a specific monetary value that can be used to purchase goods, services, or credit at a particular merchant, retailer, or brand

They function as an to cash, ing the recipient the flexibility to choose their own items or experiences

Gift cards can be physical or digital, and while many are "closed-loop" (restricted to a specific retailer), "open-loop" prepaid cards exist that are usable anywhere debit cards are accepted