Creating your very own eCommerce website is a great way to take advantage of the online shopping phenomena of current times. In the past, we had the likes of Flipkart and Amazon but, with tools available today, you can build your bespoke online shopping website which can be as large or professional as you desire.
This guide aims to cover everything step by step from applying front-end and back-end technologies to integrating and deploying databases, so you can built eCommerce websites like Amazon and Flipkart.
Why Build an eCommerce Website?
Let’s explore why firms prefer self-sustained custom-built eCommerce platforms as opposed to third-party solutions before we look at the tech stack.
Complete Control: Every element with your product Website design, data, as well as customer exoerience are all in your command.
Scalability: You can customize the system as your business grows.
Better Branding: Your platform reflects your brand identity, not Amazon’s or Flipkart’s.
Step 1: Decide Your eCommerce Features
Before coding, you must list down the essential features of an eCommerce site, such as:
User Registration & Login
Product Listings & Filters
Shopping Cart & Wishlist
Secure Checkout Process
Payment Gateway Integration
Order Management
Admin Dashboard
Reviews & Ratings
Responsive UI/UX
Step 2: Choose the Right Tech Stack for eCommerce Website
For building a full-fledged online store like Amazon, a full-stack web development approach is ideal. Here’s a commonly used stack:
🔹 Front-End (Client Side)
Use React.js for building dynamic user interfaces.
Modern, fast, and SEO-friendly
Reusable components
Virtual DOM for better performance
🔹 Back-End (Server Side)
Node.js with Express.js is perfect for handling server-side logic.
Handles concurrent users efficiently
Non-blocking I/O operations
Easy API creation with Express
🔹 Database
MongoDB is a great NoSQL database for managing product, user, and order data.
Schema-less design for flexibility
Scales easily
Integrates well with Node.js
🔹 Authentication
Use JWT (JSON Web Tokens) or OAuth for secure login/logout functionalities.
🔹 Payment Gateway Integration
Integrate payment services like:
Razorpay
Stripe
PayPal
They offer SDKs and REST APIs for easy integration into your eCommerce application.
Step 3: Design the Database Schema
A good database structure is essential to handle complex relationships in an eCommerce platform.
json
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// Sample Product Schema
{
“name”: “Nike Air Max”,
“description”: “High-quality sports shoes”,
“price”: 6999,
“category”: “Footwear”,
“images”: [“img1.jpg”, “img2.jpg”],
“stock”: 30,
“rating”: 4.5,
“reviews”: [{ userId, comment, rating }]
}
Also create schemas for User, Order, Cart, and Admin.
Step 4: Build the Front-End Pages
You need to develop multiple pages with React or another front-end framework:
Homepage – List products, banners, and categories.
Product Page – Product details, ratings, similar products.
Cart Page – View, edit, or remove products.
Checkout Page – Address, payment, and order confirmation.
Login/Register Page – User authentication.
Admin Dashboard – Add/edit/delete products, view orders.
Use Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap for faster UI development and responsive design.
Step 5: Develop RESTful APIs
Create REST APIs using Express.js to connect your front-end with the back-end.
Example:
javascript
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// Fetch product details API
app.get(“/api/products/:id”, async (req, res) => {
const product = await Product.findById(req.params.id);
res.json(product);
});
APIs should cover:
Product listing & filtering
Cart operations
User authentication
Order processing
Admin actions
Step 6: Add Payment Gateway & Order Management
After users proceed to checkout:
Collect shipping details
Trigger the payment gateway API
If payment is successful, create an order entry in the database
Send confirmation via email or SMS
Order Management System must include:
Order status (Processing, Shipped, Delivered)
Refund/Return support
Delivery tracking (optional)
Step 7: Testing the eCommerce Website
Testing is essential for delivering a bug-free experience.
Unit Testing: Test components and functions.
Integration Testing: Test how components work together.
Security Testing: Prevent XSS, SQL Injection, and CSRF attacks.
Performance Testing: Use tools like Lighthouse or GTmetrix.
Step 8: Deploy Your eCommerce Platform
Hosting:
Use cloud platforms like:
Render / Vercel / Netlify – For front-end
Heroku / AWS EC2 / DigitalOcean – For back-end and database
Domain & SSL:
Buy a domain from Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.
Use Let’s Encrypt or Cloudflare for SSL certificate.
Bonus Tips to Scale Like Amazon or Flipkart
Add Recommendation Systems using machine learning.
Implement Search Autocomplete using ElasticSearch.
Use CDN to deliver content faster globally.
Enable PWA (Progressive Web App) features for mobile-friendliness.
Analytics Integration with tools like Google Analytics and Hotjar.
Overarching Conclusion
Designing your own eCommerce framework like Amazon and Flipkart might seem daunting at first. However, with the right planning and technology, it can be accomplished. You can start on a smaller scale, test your business hypothesis, then scale your application over the course of time to accommodate additional features.
No matter whether you are a developer constructing it for a client or an entrepreneur developing your very own online marketplace, having mastery of the coding behind such platforms is essential for sustainable success.
Want to Build Real-World Projects Like This?
If you’re ready to level up and build real-world projects like Amazon from scratch, join Sharpener’s Full Stack Development Course with Pay After Placement. Learn React, Node.js, MongoDB, Express, and more while working on hands-on projects, and pay only when you get placed.
