Online shopping is the process whereby consumers directly buy goods or services from a seller in real-time, without an intermediary service, over the Internet. It is a form of electronic commerce. An online shop, eshop, e-store, Internet shop, webshop, webstore, online store, or virtual store evokes the physical analogy of buying products or services at a bricks-and-mortar retailer or in a shopping center. The process is called business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping. When a business buys from another business, it is called business-to-business (B2B) online shopping.
In 1991 the Worldwide Web opened for commercial use. In 1994 other advances took place, such as online banking and the opening of an online pizza shop by Pizza Hut. During that same year, Netscape introduced Secure Sockets Layer encryption of data transferred online, which has become essential for secure online shopping. Also, in 1994, the German company Intershop introduced its first online shopping system. In 1995, Amazon launched its online shopping site, and in 1996, eBay appeared.
Questions and Answers
Q: What is online shopping?
A: Online shopping is the process where customers can buy goods or services directly from a seller over the internet without any intermediary service.
Q: What is business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping?
A: Business-to-consumer (B2C) online shopping is the process where businesses sell goods or services directly to customers over the internet.
Q: What is business-to-business (B2B) online shopping?
A: Business-to-business (B2B) online shopping is the process where businesses buy goods or services from other businesses over the internet.
Q: When did the Worldwide Web open for commercial use?
A: The Worldwide Web opened for commercial use in 1991.
Q: When did Amazon launch its online shopping site?
A: Amazon launched its online shopping site in 1995.
Q: When did eBay appear?
A: eBay appeared in 1996.
Q: What is Secure Sockets Layer encryption and why is it essential for secure online shopping?
A: Secure Sockets Layer encryption is a type of encryption used to protect the data transferred online. It is essential for secure online shopping as it ensures that the customer's personal and financial information is kept safe and secure.
