Webstore

A webstore is an online storefront accessible through the World Wide Web that enables customers to browse products, place orders, and manage accounts electronically. It functions as a form of e-commerce and can be a standalone site, part of a company’s website, or a marketplace platform.

Core components include a product catalog with descriptions and media, search and filtering, a shopping cart, a checkout workflow, payment processing, and order management. Additional capabilities often support customer accounts, reviews and ratings, wish lists, promos, and personalized recommendations.

Webstores can be implemented on self-hosted software, hosted platforms, or as headless/API-driven systems. Popular deployment models include self-hosted solutions (e.g., open-source or licensed software) and software-as-a-service platforms that provide hosting, updates, and built-in features.

Security and compliance are critical, with encryption (SSL/TLS) for data in transit and payment card industry standards (PCI DSS) for handling payment information, along with fraud prevention, identity verification, and data protection measures.

Operations cover order fulfillment, shipping options, tax calculation, invoicing, returns and refunds, customer support, and analytics. Good webstore design emphasizes fast load times, mobile compatibility, accessibility, and a clear checkout flow to reduce cart abandonment.

In the market, webstores range from small business sites to large marketplaces. They are built using a variety of platforms and can be tailored with custom development, third-party apps, and integrations with ERP, CRM, and logistics systems.