As soon as the customer clicks the “Proceed to Checkout” button, the transaction shifts to a secure, encrypted channel. A padlock symbol appears in the address bar of the browser, and the URL changes from “http” to “https.”
From this point on, the goal is to gather the information necessary to complete the transaction. The Checkout page leads the customer through each step of the process, starting with the billing, shipping, and payment information, and finally a review of the order. Customers who are logged into their accounts can skip some of these steps, if the information is already in their accounts.
The last step is for the customer to agree to the terms and conditions of the sale, and place the order.
