Shopping Cart
Definition
The feature on e-commerce websites where customers collect products before purchasing. Also called a basket. Critical for online sales.
What is a Shopping Cart?
A shopping cart (or basket) is the e-commerce feature that lets customers collect products as they browse, then purchase them all together. It temporarily stores selected items until checkout.
Shopping Cart Features
Essential
- Add/remove products
- Update quantities
- Show subtotal
- Persist across pages
- Clear path to checkout
Enhanced
- Save for later
- Wishlist functionality
- Estimated shipping costs
- Discount/coupon codes
- Related product suggestions
- Guest cart (works without login)
Why Cart Design Matters
Conversion Impact
A confusing or slow cart loses sales.
Abandonment
~70% of carts are abandoned. Cart experience is a major factor.
Trust Building
Clear pricing, secure badges, and return policy visibility.
Mobile Experience
Significant shopping happens on mobile. Carts must work flawlessly on small screens.
Cart Best Practices
Visibility
Make it easy to see what's in the cart and access it.
Persistence
Carts should survive browser closes and device changes (when possible).
Simplicity
Minimal steps to add items and proceed to checkout.
Transparency
Show all costs upfront – no surprise fees at checkout.
Speed
Fast loading and responsive interactions.
Security
Display trust signals and secure payment badges.
Mini Cart vs Full Cart
Mini Cart
Dropdown or slide-out showing cart contents without leaving the page. Good for quick adds and continuous shopping.
Full Cart Page
Dedicated page with complete details, often pre-checkout. Better for complex orders.
Most e-commerce sites use both.
Shopping Cart Platforms
Major platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce) handle cart functionality well out of the box. Custom e-commerce needs careful cart implementation.