What is an E-commerce Website?

An e-commerce website is an online platform that enables the buying and selling of goods or services over the internet. It allows businesses and consumers to conduct transactions digitally, eliminating the need for a physical storefront.

Key Features of an E-commerce:

• Product Listings: A catalog of products or services with prices, details, and availability.
• Shopping Cart: Lets users add products for purchase and review them before checkout.
• Checkout & Payment: Secure gateways for making payments via cards, UPI, wallets, etc.
• User Accounts: Profiles for customers to track orders, manage addresses, and view purchase history.
• Order Management: Systems for businesses to process, ship, and fulfill customer orders.
• Search & Filters: Helps users easily find products based on categories, price, brand, etc.
• Reviews & Ratings: User feedback to build trust and improve shopping decisions.

Types of E-commerce

1. B2C (Business to Consumer): Example: Amazon, Flipkart
2. B2B (Business to Business): Example: Alibaba
3. C2C (Consumer to Consumer): Example: eBay, OLX
4. C2B (Consumer to Business): Example: Freelancer platforms

Advantages

• 24/7 availability
• Global reach
• Lower operational costs
• Convenient and fast for consumers

Common Technologies Used

E-commerce websites are built using technologies like HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and often use backend frameworks like Node.js, PHP, Python, or Java along with databases like MySQL or MongoDB. Platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce also help build e-commerce solutions quickly.