What is defined as buying and selling through the internet?

E-commerce is defined as the buying and selling of goods and services over the internet. This encompasses a wide range of online transactions, including retail shopping, electronic payments, and marketplace exchanges. The convenience and accessibility of e-commerce have transformed the retail landscape, allowing customers to make purchases from anywhere in the world at any time.

The other options refer to different concepts. Franchising involves a business model where one party (the franchisor) grants another (the franchisee) the right to operate a business under its brand and business model, which is not limited to internet transactions. Impulse buying describes a consumer behavior where purchases are made spontaneously rather than planned, which can happen both online and offline. An independent establishment refers to a retail store that operates on its own, without ties to larger chains or franchises, and while it can operate online, it is not inherently focused on online transactions like e-commerce is.