Q.Define e-commerce and state any four of its features.

E-commerce is trade carried on over computer networks; its features flow from the fact that buyer and seller meet on a network rather than in a shop.

Definition. E-commerce (electronic commerce) is the carrying on of commercial transactions — the buying and selling of goods and services, together with the transfer of money and the exchange of information needed to complete them — over computer networks, chiefly the internet. Instead of meeting in a physical shop, buyer and seller deal through a website or mobile app, money moves electronically, and the bill is an electronic record.

Four features (any four):

1. Anytime, anywhere trading — the online store is open 24 hours a day, every day, and can be reached from any place with internet.
2. Wide reach / global market — even a small seller can reach buyers across the country or the world, far beyond a local shop's customers.
3. Electronic payment — payment is made through cards, net banking, wallets or UPI rather than physical cash.
4. Automation — order processing, invoicing and record-keeping are handled by software with little manual effort.
5. Digital catalogue and search — products are shown with descriptions, images, prices and reviews, and buyers can search and compare quickly.
6. Information-rich — buyers get detailed information, and sellers collect useful data on demand and preferences.

Writing only 'buying and selling online' as the definition and stopping there. A full definition also mentions the exchange of money and information over computer networks/the internet, and features must be genuine characteristics, not just examples of products sold.