Checkout

  • Written by Ganesh Pawar 2 min read
  • Updated: July 21, 2025

What is checkout?

Checkout is the final step in an online shopping experience where a customer provides payment and shipping information to complete their purchase. It’s the digital version of going to the register in a physical store and it’s where the sale is either won or lost.

The checkout process starts when a shopper clicks the ‘Buy Now’ or ‘Proceed to Checkout’ button and ends when the order is successfully placed. It includes entering billing details, choosing a payment method, and confirming the order.

Why is checkout important in ecommerce?

Checkout is where all your marketing and product efforts pay off, or don’t. A smooth, fast, and trustworthy checkout process leads to higher conversions.

On the flip side, if your checkout is too long, confusing, or lacking payment options, shoppers are more likely to abandon their cart.

Example of checkout

A customer visits an online clothing store and adds a T-shirt and a pair of jeans to their cart. Once they’re ready to buy, they click on the cart icon and hit the ‘Checkout’ button.

On the checkout page, they:

  • Enter shipping details like their name, address, and phone number
  • Choose a delivery method if multiple options are available.
  • Select a payment option such as credit card, UPI, or PayPal.
  • Review the order by checking the items, price, and shipping charges.
  • Click ‘Place Order’ to complete the purchase.

Once done, they receive an order confirmation by email, and the store starts processing the order.

Driftcharge Tip

Keep your checkout process short and simple. Avoid asking for unnecessary information, only request what’s needed to complete the purchase. A faster, cleaner checkout reduces drop-offs and boosts conversions.

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Ganesh Pawar

Ganesh Pawar is the founder of Driftcharge, a subscription management app designed to help Shopify merchants streamline and scale their subscription businesses. With a deep focus on solving real-world pain points—like legacy account page support, flexible subscription options, and advanced analytics—Ganesh is passionate about building tools that drive growth and retention.

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