An age verification system (also called an adult verification system or AVS) is technology used by a website to confirm that a user attempting to access their website is of the age required (usually by law) to view the website's content, which could include sex, nudity, violence or profanity. The system is used to legally protect companies from punishment under laws against the dissemination of pornography to a minor. These systems often use a credit card. The adult verification system is usually provided by a third-party company that can provide adult verification for multiple websites.