Electronic Commerce:

Definition: The process of buying, selling, or exchanging products, services, or

information via computer
We buy and sell items online on website using internet. By online, it means
something that it is available 24/7 or never closes and is available worldwide.
Website is the collection of many webpages.
Webpage is a page available online
that contains information or data, in the form of text, images audio or video.
Hyper text mark-up language (HTML) or any server language asp php is
required to create webpage. Available 24x7 online
To upload the web site online, followings are required
1- Register a website name with domain name and URL along with registration
fee. (normally 10-15 dollars/year)
2- Buy a hosting space on web hosting server.
A Domain name has following properties
1- It is unique world wide
2- It is accessible world wide
(There are different associations that control uniqueness like .com, .com.pk, .edu.pk, but all
of
these have global access beside notable differences)
A web hosting server has following properties
1- It stays online 24/7 ( 99.9% uptime)
2- It is run by special software like Microsoft IIS , Apache Tomcat
3- It has static WAN IP address
Types of IP address IP every device connected to internet is allocated an
address which is unique globally
1- A static Internet Protocol (IP) address (static IP address) is a permanent
number assigned to a computer by an Internet service provider. It remains
same every time device is connected with server.
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2- A dynamic Internet Protocol address (dynamic IP address) is a
temporary IP address that is assigned to a computing device when it is
connected to a network. It changes every time device is connected with
server.
LAN IP address is allocated by local server or router whereas WAN IP address is
allocated by service providing company. To keep WAN IP static, special
request/ payment is made to service providing company.
Types of Web hosting servers
1- Shared Web hosting server:
Server is used by multiple customers websites of many companies hosted on
same server.
2- Dedicated Web hosting server:
Server is used to handle all websites of same customer / company but
server is maintained by third party
3- Self-Web hosting server:
Server managed by ourself snd located in our premises.
Server is used to handle all websites of same customer / company and
server is maintained by company itself provide more control and security.
4- Co-location Web hosting server:
Server is purchased by company as per its specification but it is handled and
placed at third party location convenient than self hosting
5- ISP Web hosting server:
Hosting servers that are provided by Internet service providers
6- Professional Web hosting server:
Servers are provided by professional companies that only deals in web
hosting servers
Process:
When we type website at our device, a signal is sent to domain address
computer server prepares a copy and sends it to client.IIS apache program
perform these taks.
which sends website duplicate copy to computer asking to open website. The
server who gets primary request of site is called Primary Hosting Server. In
case,
PHS fails to act it goes to back up server called Secondary Hosting Server.
Secondary hosting server works when primary hosting server is down as SHS
works as backup of PHS. There are two types of backup keeping
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i) Mirror Backup i.e. SHS is making continuous backup
ii) Periodic Backup i.e. SHS makes backup after fixed intervals of time
Professional Hosting By professional companies they deal only with hosting
Types of web pages available online
1- Static Webpages aka client site webpages: client side web pages.These
pages have following
properties that (a) Content of these pages doesn’t change periodically.
(b) Only information can be viewed but can’t be edited or replied. Pages
developed to dissiminate one way info.
like “about us”, “Director/CEO’s message”, “Company profile”, etc.
Tech used for such pages is HTML. In HTML, we can use option “view
source”, from there we can see its original code that can be copied. Hence,
security of such pages is low
2- Interactive Webpages aka Server site webpages:
Two way webpages. Two sided information These pages doesn’t have
one sided information and can interact with user. User can add data inform
of form or reply etc. Pages like “Inquire us”, “Add Feedback”, “Complaint
page”, etc.
Tech used for such pages require HTML + Server-side languages like PHP,
ASP. It is called server site because it only sends final result to server, not
complete medium. E.g if we write command: Response write “HELLO”.
Client will only get “HELLO”. In 99.9% cases, such webpages also have
storage facilities.
3- Transactional Webpages: These websites are used for buying and selling
purpose. For such websites, we required
(a) HTML (b) Server Side language (c) Database storage (d) Payment gateway or
cash on delivery system
E-business EC + service +feedback+tracking complaints reply
back.
Definition: A broader definition of EC that includes not just the buying and
selling
of goods and services, but also servicing customers, collaborating with business
partners, and conducting electronic transactions within