In simple terms, how does a typical e commerce website work from the moment a customer browses products until the order is fulfilled?

Introduction / Context:

E commerce, or electronic commerce, refers to buying and selling goods and services over the internet. A typical interview question in this area checks whether the candidate understands the basic flow of an online purchase and the main systems involved, such as the web front end, shopping cart, payment gateway, and order fulfilment process.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The user interacts through a web browser or mobile app.
• The e commerce site has a product catalog, shopping cart, checkout flow, and payment integration.
• The merchant is responsible for shipping physical products or delivering digital goods after payment is confirmed.

Concept / Approach:

In most online stores, a user starts by browsing categories or searching the catalog. When they find items they like, they add them to a virtual cart. At checkout, the site collects shipping details and presents a summary of items and prices. The payment step usually redirects or connects to a secure payment gateway that handles card data, wallets, or other methods. After the gateway authorizes the payment, the e commerce platform marks the order as confirmed. The merchant then picks, packs, and ships physical goods or provides access to a digital product. All of these steps are tracked in an order management system for customer service and reporting.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

This flow matches what users see on popular marketplaces and brand stores. Terms such as cart, checkout, payment gateway, and order confirmation are standard pieces in documentation for e commerce platforms and payment providers. Any model that omits payment or shipping steps is incomplete and does not represent real commercial transactions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Some people focus only on the visual storefront and forget about back end functions like inventory management, fraud checks, and returns. Another pitfall is assuming that payment processors store all order data, when in fact the e commerce platform usually holds detailed order records while the gateway handles sensitive payment details. Understanding the division of responsibilities helps in designing secure and scalable solutions.

Final Answer:

The correct choice is The customer browses products, adds items to a cart, submits an order through the website, payment is processed by a payment gateway, and the merchant then ships the goods or delivers the service. because this option accurately summarizes the standard e commerce transaction flow.