Drivethru

Drive-thru, also written drive-through, is a service format in which customers remain in their vehicle while goods are ordered, paid for, and collected at a dedicated window or through a separate pickup lane. The term drivethru is often used as branding or in shorthand, including as "drive-thru" or "drive-through" depending on locale. Common sectors include fast-food and coffee outlets, but drive-thru concepts are also used by banks, pharmacies, supermarkets, and gas/convenience stores.

A typical drive-thru sequence involves an order point with a menu board or digital screen, an area for payment at the first window or the window, and a pickup window. Lanes may be single- or multi-queue; some setups include a separate lane for mobile orders or for customers who have pre-paid via an app.

Drive-thru service began to appear in the United States in the mid-20th century. The claim that Red's Giant Hamburg in Springfield, Missouri, introduced the first drive-thru window in 1947 is common but debated; other outlets in the 1940s-1950s also claim early drive-thru implementations. The concept gained popularity with fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s and spread globally in the following decades.

Drive-thru service offers convenience and speed, contributing to higher throughput for high-volume retailers. It has environmental and traffic implications, including increased vehicle idling. Technological advances such as mobile ordering, dedicated pickup zones, and curbside services have complemented traditional drive-thru models. In some markets, drive-thru lanes coexist with in-store dining or are supplemented by drive-up windows in pharmacies and banks.