is it a shopping cart or a catalog/CMS?

terms used for one or both?

[storemike]

Hi, I'm a long-time web programmer and have built some custom eCommerce sites. When I think of a shopping cart, I think of the code that allows me to save items in a session or a databse, allows me to view these items when I click the cart icon at the top of the page, and allows me to checkout. When I look around and talk to other developers, I hear and see suites of software referred to as shopping carts, when they're basically the entire store. Is Target the shopping cart or is it the red plastic thing with wheels you push around when inside Target?

What do you guys think?

Mike

(in case you couldn't tell, this has been bugging me for a while)

[Wlauzon]

It is the red plastic thing.

[moltar]

When I think of a shopping cart in web context, I think of an entire store. I have never thought about it, but now that you pointed this out, I think, I think incorrect ;)

[Elixir]

Wow - heavvvyyyy!

I think the answer is both. But I could be wrong.

I personally prefer when a client uses a CMS style cart as I can programmatically optimize the site. If they use a simple shopping cart I have to edit hundreds of pages.