A shopping cart is a software application on an e-commerce website that allows visitors to select, review, and purchase products or services. Think of it as a digital version of the physical cart you use in a supermarket. It's a fundamental tool for any online store, enabling the core function of buying and selling over the internet.

The typical shopping cart process involves several key steps:

• Adding Items: Customers browse your site and click an "Add to Cart" or similar button. The cart stores details like product name, price, quantity, and selected options.
• Review & Edit: The cart page displays all selected items, often with a running subtotal. Customers can update quantities, remove items, or apply discount codes here.
• Checkout: This is the final stage where the customer proceeds to purchase. They enter shipping details, choose a payment method (like credit card or PayPal), and confirm the order.

For your hosting website, if you sell plans or domains, your shopping cart is what manages the customer's selections before they complete the purchase on your billing system.

A well-designed cart is crucial for conversions. It should be easy to find, visually clear, and guide the customer smoothly to checkout. Common features include showing a cart icon with the item count, saving the cart contents for later, and calculating taxes and shipping costs automatically. Ensuring your site's shopping cart is secure, fast, and reliable builds trust and directly impacts your online sales success.