E-commerce is built on the Internet, a global network of interconnected computers. It began with ARPANET, a U.S. military project in 1969, which later became NSFNET, the Internet's original backbone. The Internet has since expanded rapidly, connecting over 200 countries and making global e-commerce possible.
To understand e-commerce, it's important to differentiate it from e-business. E-commerce involves buying and selling products or services online, while e-business includes all electronic business activities, such as information sharing and internal processes. Companies like Amazon operate entirely online, while others like Walmart combine physical and online stores.
E-commerce covers a wide range of products and services and continues to evolve as technology advances. This paper will focus on three main areas: the early development of e-commerce, modern online shopping, and the impact of this growth with suggestions for improvement.