IK GUJRAL PUNJAB TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

KAPURTHALA

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

SUBMITTED BY- SUBMITTED TO-

Anurag Mishra Mrs. Pallavi

Roll no.-2323449

Section-A( Group-2)

Project-Ecommerce Website

Subject- I.T workshop

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. User Authentication
 Login Page: Allows users to log in to their
accounts by entering their credentials. Redirects
them to their dashboard upon successful
authentication.
 Signup Page: Enables new users to register by
providing personal information such as name,
email, and password.
 Logout: Logs the user out and ends their session
securely.
 Change Password: Provides users with an option
to update their current password.
2. Customer Account Management
 My Account: A personal dashboard where
customers can view and manage their account
details, track orders, and access other features.
 Edit Account: Allows users to update their profile
information, such as name, email, or address.
 Delete Account: Gives users the option to
permanently delete their account and associated
data.
3. Shopping Features
  Homepage: Serves as the main entry point for
the website, showcasing featured products,
categories, and promotional banners.
 Product Listing: Displays all available products,
often with sorting and filtering options for easy
navigation.
 Product Details: Provides in-depth information
about a selected product, including images,
specifications, and pricing.
 Search Results: Displays products that match the
user's search query.
 Add to Cart: Lets customers add items to their
shopping cart for purchase later.
 Checkout: Guides users through the process of
reviewing their cart and providing payment and
shipping details.
 Payment Processing: Handles online payments,
including integration with UPI for secure
transactions. Includes functionality for payment
success and failure.
4. Admin Panel
 Dashboard: The central hub for administrators to
oversee and manage the website.
  Manage Brands: Admins can add, edit, view, and
delete product brands from the system.
 Manage Categories: Provides tools to add,
update, and remove product categories.
 Manage Products: Admins can upload new
products, edit existing ones, and manage product
inventories.
 Manage Customers: Displays a list of registered
customers, with options to view and manage
their details.
5. Database
 The database contains all the necessary tables
and relationships for the application, such as user
accounts, product information, and order
histories. The SQL file provided includes the
structure and some initial data to set up the
system.
6. Styles and Assets
 Styling: The website uses CSS files to define its
appearance, including separate styles for the
main site and admin panel.
 Images: Includes product images, user profile
pictures, and general website assets like logos
and banners.
7. Supporting Functionality
 Core Functions: Contains reusable functions for
tasks like retrieving data, validating inputs, and
processing payments.
 Database Connection: Ensures smooth
communication between the website and the
database using connection scripts tailored for
different sections.
 Introduction
 Purpose
The objective of this web application is to provide a
comprehensive online shopping platform where users
can browse, search, and purchase products
conveniently. Customers can register, log in, and
manage their accounts, while administrators have
tools to manage products, categories, brands, and
customer data. The platform also integrates secure
payment gateways to ensure seamless and safe
transactions.
 Scope
The web application is designed to support the
following functionalities:
 User Authentication: Users can register, log in,
and manage their profiles securely.
 Product Browsing and Search: Customers can
explore product listings, view detailed product
descriptions, and search for specific items.
 Shopping Cart and Checkout: Users can add
items to a virtual shopping cart and proceed to
checkout for secure payments.
 Admin Management: Administrators can oversee
the platform, including adding and editing
 products, managing categories and brands, and
monitoring user activity.
 Payment Processing: The application integrates
with payment gateways (like UPI) for reliable and
efficient payment handling.
 Limitations:
 The system currently supports only basic
payment gateways and may require additional
customization for other payment methods.
 It does not include advanced features like AI-
based recommendations, multi-language
support, or cross-platform mobile applications.
 Stock and inventory management is simplified
and may not cater to large-scale businesses.
 Technology Used
The application is built using a combination of
modern web technologies:
 Frontend:
o HTML and CSS for structure and styling of web
pages.
o JavaScript for interactivity and dynamic content.
 Backend:
 o PHP for server-side scripting and handling
business logic.
o MySQL for database management, storing user
data, product information, and transaction
details.
 Integration:
o UPI for payment processing.
 Admin and Customer Styles:
o Custom CSS styles to differentiate between
admin and customer interfaces.
 Database:
o A relational database designed using SQL to
ensure data integrity and efficient querying
 Problem Statement
The Problem:
In the digital age, traditional shopping methods can
be inconvenient, time-consuming, and limited in
terms of accessibility and variety. Small to medium-
sized businesses often struggle to compete with large
e-commerce platforms due to the lack of affordable,
customizable, and scalable online shopping solutions.
Customers, on the other hand, face challenges such
as:
 Limited shopping options in their local area.
 Difficulty comparing products and prices across
stores.
 Inefficient checkout processes and lack of secure
payment methods.
For businesses, challenges include:
 Manual management of products, inventory, and
customer data.
 Difficulty in reaching a broader audience.
 High costs associated with developing and
maintaining e-commerce platforms.
The Solution:
This web application addresses these issues by
providing a feature-rich online shopping platform that
bridges the gap between customers and businesses.
Why this solution is necessary:
 For Customers:
o It offers a convenient platform to browse and
purchase products anytime, anywhere.
o Provides detailed product information, pricing
transparency, and secure payment methods.
o Reduces the hassle of physical shopping by
enabling home delivery or easy pickup options.
 For Businesses:
o It equips small and medium-sized enterprises
with tools to manage their inventory, customer
interactions, and sales effectively.
o Expands the business's reach to online
customers, increasing visibility and potential
revenue.
o Offers an affordable and customizable solution
compared to building a platform from scratch.
Gap Filled:
This application fills a gap in the market by providing
an easy-to-use, scalable, and cost-effective e-
commerce platform tailored for small to medium-
sized businesses. It bridges the divide between offline
and online commerce, empowering businesses to
stay competitive while offering customers a seamless
shopping experience.
 System Design and Architecture

Overview of System Design

The web application is based on a client-server model
using a0 three-tier architecture:
1. Presentation Layer (Frontend):
o This layer interacts with the user through web
pages. It includes the user interface built with
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
2. Application Layer (Backend):
o The logic of the application is handled by PHP. It
processes user requests, interacts with the
database, and delivers appropriate responses to
the client.
3. Data Layer (Database):
o MySQL is used to store and retrieve data,
including user accounts, products, orders, and
payments.
This architecture is further enhanced by the Model-
View-Controller (MVC) design pattern, separating the
logic, interface, and data management for better
scalability and maintainability.
Technologies Chosen
1. Frontend Technologies:
 HTML: Provides the structure of the web pages.
 CSS: Ensures responsive and visually appealing
designs.
 JavaScript: Adds interactivity, such as form
validations and dynamic content updates.
Justification: These technologies are lightweight,
widely supported, and provide flexibility for
designing user-friendly interfaces.
2. Backend Technologies:
 PHP: Manages server-side logic, processes user
requests, and interacts with the database.
 UPI API: Enables secure payment processing.
Justification: PHP is widely used for web
development, easy to integrate with MySQL, and
cost-effective for small to medium-sized projects.
3. Database:
 MySQL: Stores structured data such as user
information, product details, and transactions.
Justification: MySQL is reliable, open-source, and
optimized for handling relational data efficiently.
Database Design
1. Users Table
 Stores customer information such as usernames,
email addresses, passwords, and contact details.
This table is essential for user authentication and
profile management.
2. Products Table
 Contains details about products available for sale,
including the product name, description, price,
stock quantity, and associated images. This
ensures customers can view and select products
easily.
3. Categories Table
 Organizes products into categories for easier
browsing and navigation, such as "Electronics,"
"Clothing," or "Home Appliances."
4. Orders Table
 Tracks customer purchases, recording details such
as the product purchased, quantity, total cost,
and order status (e.g., "Pending" or "Delivered").
5. Payments Table
 Records payment details, including the method
used (e.g., UPI), payment status (e.g.,
"Completed"), and the total transaction amount.
Wireframes/Mockups:
 Features and Functionalities

User Registration/Login
The registration process allows new users to create
an account by providing details such as name, email,
password, and optional additional information like
phone number and address. Once registered, users
can log in using their email and password. Secure
password hashing ensures user credentials are stored
safely. Logged-in users can access personalized
features like managing their account, viewing order
history, and saving items in their cart.

Admin Dashboard
The admin dashboard is a centralized interface
exclusively accessible to administrators. Key features
include:
 Product Management: Add, edit, or remove

products from the store.

 Category and Brand Management: Organize

products under specific categories or brands for

better browsing.
 Customer Management: View, edit, or delete

customer accounts and monitor user activity.

 Order Tracking: Oversee pending, completed,

and canceled orders.

  Reports and Analytics: View sales statistics,
inventory levels, and revenue summaries.
These tools empower administrators to efficiently
manage the website and ensure a smooth shopping
experience for customers.

Core Features
 Search Functionality: Users can search for

specific products using keywords, with results

dynamically displayed.
 Product Browsing: Products are displayed with

essential details like price, description, and

images, enabling users to make informed
choices.
 Shopping Cart: Users can add items to a cart,

adjust quantities, or remove items before

proceeding to checkout.
 Order Placement and Tracking: Customers can

review their order details, make payments

securely, and track the status of their orders.
 Payment Integration: Supports UPI to handle

online transactions securely.

Data Handling
 Storage: All data is stored in a MySQL database,

ensuring it is organized and easily accessible. Key

 entities like users, products, orders, and
payments are structured in relational tables to
maintain data consistency.
 Processing: PHP scripts handle requests such as
user authentication, product searches, and cart
updates. Data is sanitized and validated before
processing to prevent errors or malicious
activities.
 Retrieval: SQL queries are used to fetch data
efficiently. For example, when a user searches for
products, only relevant items matching the query
are retrieved and displayed.
 Implementation
Frontend Development
 HTML: HTML is used to structure the web pages,
creating forms for user registration, login, and
other features like viewing products and
submitting orders. Forms allow users to enter
and submit data such as personal information
and payment details.
 CSS: CSS styles the web pages to enhance the
visual appeal. It handles the layout, colors, fonts,
and the positioning of elements. Bootstrap is
used to ensure the application is responsive and
looks good on both desktop and mobile devices.
 JavaScript: JavaScript is used to add interactivity
to the pages. It manages client-side actions such
as form validation, updating the shopping cart,
and dynamically showing or hiding content based
on user actions.

Backend Development
 PHP: PHP handles the server-side logic. It
processes requests, such as registering users,
logging them in, and managing their sessions.
PHP interacts with the MySQL database to store
and retrieve user data, product details, and order
information.
  Database Interaction: The application uses
MySQL to store and manage data. This includes
tables for users, products, orders, and cart items.
PHP scripts handle querying the database,
inserting new data, and updating records.
 Session Management: PHP sessions are used to

maintain the user’s login state across multiple

pages, ensuring they remain logged in while
browsing the website.
Third-Party Libraries/Frameworks

 Bootstrap: Used to speed up development with

pre-designed UI components and ensure the
website is responsive.
 jQuery: Simplifies DOM manipulation, event
handling, and AJAX requests.
 UPI API: Integrated for handling payment
transactions securely.
 Testing
1. Unit Testing
Unit testing focuses on testing individual components
or functions of the application to ensure they
perform as expected in isolation.
 Backend (PHP):
Unit tests were written for the backend to ensure
key functionalities related to user data
management, such as user registration, login, and
password handling, work as intended. Testing
frameworks like PHPUnit were used to validate
that:
o The user registration function inserts data

correctly into the database.

o The login function properly authenticates users

by comparing hashed passwords.

o The database queries return the expected

results.
 Frontend (JavaScript):
Unit tests were written for the frontend to verify
JavaScript functions, such as adding products to
the shopping cart or handling form validation.
Testing tools like Jest or Mocha were used to
ensure these functions work as intended.
2. Integration Testing
Integration testing checks how different parts of the
application interact with each other and ensures they
work together as expected.
 Frontend & Backend Interaction:
The communication between the frontend
(JavaScript) and the backend (PHP) was tested to
verify that when a user adds an item to the cart,
the frontend correctly sends data to the backend,
and the backend processes and stores the data in
the database. It also verifies that the backend
sends appropriate responses back to the frontend,
which then updates the cart or shows a
confirmation.
 Database Interaction:
The integration between the backend and the
database was tested to ensure that data from the
frontend (such as user registration, product
details, and order information) is accurately
inserted into or updated in the database.
Additionally, the database queries that fetch or
process data (like product listings or order
processing) were tested to ensure they return
correct results.
3. User Testing
User testing is conducted to observe how real users
interact with the application and to identify any
usability issues or areas for improvement.
 Usability Testing:
Usability testing was conducted with a group of
real users to evaluate the user interface (UI) and
user experience (UX). This testing focused on how
users navigated the site and performed key tasks
such as:
o Registering for an account.

o Logging in.

o Adding items to the cart.

o Completing the checkout process.

Feedback was gathered regarding the ease of use,

design, and overall satisfaction with the application.
Common usability issues identified included:
o Navigation challenges.
o Missing or unclear error messages on forms.
o Difficulty locating the cart or checkout buttons.
 Challenges Faced
Throughout the development of the web application,
several challenges were encountered. Some of the
most notable ones include:
 Debugging Issues:

Debugging was a major challenge, especially

when dealing with issues related to database
connections, form submissions, or JavaScript
functionality. Errors such as missing or incorrect
query results, broken AJAX requests, or issues
with session management were frequent. These
were addressed by using debugging tools like
Xdebug for PHP, console.log() for JavaScript, and
MySQL logs for database issues. Thorough
testing and step-by-step code review helped to
identify and fix the issues.
 Integration Problems:

Integrating the frontend (JavaScript) with the

backend (PHP) posed some difficulties, especially
when it came to handling asynchronous
requests. Ensuring that data from the frontend
was correctly passed to the backend and that
responses were correctly processed required
careful attention to the design of AJAX requests
and proper handling of asynchronous calls. To
overcome these challenges, we utilized AJAX
 error handling to provide better feedback and
ensure that data was transferred smoothly
between the client and the server.
 Database Performance:
Initially, the database queries were not
optimized, causing slow page load times when
handling large sets of data, such as product
listings or user data. These performance issues
were resolved by optimizing the SQL queries,
adding indexes to frequently queried columns,
and utilizing pagination to limit the amount of
data retrieved at once.
 Cross-browser Compatibility:
Ensuring that the web application worked
consistently across different browsers (e.g.,
Chrome, Firefox, Safari) and devices (desktop and
mobile) posed a challenge, particularly with
layout issues and CSS styling. This was resolved
by using Bootstrap for responsive design and
testing the application on different browsers and
devices to ensure consistent behavior.
 Future Enhancements
While the current version of the web application
serves its core purpose, there are several potential
enhancements that could be added in future
updates:
 User Profile Management:

Adding more robust user profile management

features, such as the ability to update personal
information, change passwords, or view order
history, would improve the user experience and
provide more personalized functionality.
 Payment Gateway Integration:

To enhance the e-commerce functionality,

integrating a payment gateway (like UPI, Stripe, or
Razorpay) would enable users to make secure
payments directly through the application.
 Real-time Notifications:

Adding a feature to send real-time notifications

(e.g., email or SMS) to users for order
confirmations, shipping updates, or promotional
offers could improve user engagement and
communication.
 Search and Filter Functionality:

Implementing an advanced search and filtering

system would allow users to easily find products
 based on criteria like price range, category, or
ratings, enhancing the shopping experience.
 Mobile App Version:
Developing a mobile application to accompany the
web platform could provide users with a more
seamless experience across devices, offering push
notifications, offline browsing, and a more
optimized mobile interface.
 User Reviews and Ratings:
Adding a feature to allow users to rate and review
products would improve the trustworthiness of
the platform and provide valuable feedback for
other users.
 AI-based Product Recommendations:
Integrating an AI-based recommendation system
that suggests products based on user behavior or
preferences could further personalize the
shopping experience, increasing user engagement
and sales.
 Conclusion
The primary objective of this web application was to
create a functional and user-friendly e-commerce
platform that allows users to browse products,
register, log in, add items to their cart, and complete
purchases. Additionally, the application was designed
with an admin dashboard to manage products, users,
and orders. Through careful planning, development,
and testing, the project successfully met these goals
and provided a seamless shopping experience for
users.
Throughout the development process, key features
like user authentication, shopping cart functionality,
and order processing were implemented, and the
frontend was optimized for responsive design. The
application also ensured smooth integration between
the frontend, backend, and database, allowing for
efficient data management and storage.
Reflection on Learning
The development of this project was a valuable
learning experience, with several key takeaways:
 Technical Skills:

This project deepened my understanding of both

frontend and backend technologies. I gained
hands-on experience with PHP, JavaScript, and
MySQL, and learned how to integrate them into a
 cohesive web application. It also enhanced my
knowledge of web development best practices,
including user authentication, form validation, and
database optimization.
 Problem-Solving and Debugging:
Throughout the project, I encountered various
challenges, such as integrating the frontend and
backend, debugging issues with AJAX requests,
and optimizing database queries. These challenges
helped me improve my problem-solving skills and
taught me how to approach and troubleshoot
issues systematically.
 User-Centric Design:
The importance of usability and user feedback was
evident as the project progressed. Conducting
user testing helped identify pain points in the user
experience, which led to refinements in the
design. This reinforced the idea that user-centered
design is essential for creating a successful web
application.
 Project Management:
Managing the scope of the project, prioritizing
features, and meeting deadlines were key aspects
of the development process. This project
reinforced the value of organization and time
management in software development.
Overall, this project not only met its objectives of
creating a functional e-commerce platform but also
provided valuable insights and experience in full-
stack web development, preparing me for future
projects and challenges in the field.

References
1. W3Schools – A widely used resource for quick
tutorials and references on HTML, CSS, JavaScript,
PHP, and more.
2. MDN Web Docs – Mozilla's comprehensive
documentation on web technologies such as
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and APIs.
3. Bootstrap Documentation – Official
documentation for the Bootstrap framework, used
for creating responsive designs.
4. PHP Manual – The official PHP documentation, a
valuable resource for learning PHP functions,
syntax, and best practices.
5. YouTube Tutorials – Various YouTube channels
providing tutorials on web development topics,
including PHP, JavaScript, MySQL, and full-stack
development.