TVR Decoder
Decode the Terminal Verification Results (EMV tag 95) 5-byte bitfield into human-readable flag descriptions.
What the Terminal Verification Results (95) capture
The Terminal Verification Results (TVR), EMV tag 95, is the single most important diagnostic field in a chip or contactless transaction. It is a 5-byte bitmap in which the terminal records every exception it encountered: offline data authentication results, processing restrictions, cardholder verification problems, terminal risk management outcomes, and issuer-script results. If you debug one EMV field, it is this one.
The TVR does not decide anything by itself. At the action-analysis step the terminal masks the TVR against the Terminal Action Codes (Default, Denial, Online) and the card's Issuer Action Codes. A bit set in the TVR only forces a decline or a go-online if the matching action-code bit is also set — which is why two terminals can treat the same card differently.
Reading the five bytes
Byte 1 covers offline data authentication (SDA/DDA/CDA failed, card on exception file). Byte 2 covers processing restrictions (application expired, service not allowed, new card). Byte 3 covers cardholder verification (CVM not successful, PIN required but no pad, online PIN entered). Byte 4 covers terminal risk management (floor limit exceeded, velocity checks). Byte 5 covers script processing and, on contactless, relay-resistance results. Pair the TVR with the TSI to see not just what failed but what was performed.
Common questions
A TVR bit is set but the transaction still approved — is that wrong?
No. A set TVR bit is only acted upon if the corresponding terminal or issuer action code bit is set. Many TVR bits are informational and routinely set on approved transactions.
Which byte explains a "floor limit exceeded" go-online?
Byte 4. Terminal risk management sets "Transaction exceeds floor limit" there, which the online action code then turns into a go-online decision.
Bit definitions follow EMV Book 3. All decoding happens locally in your browser.