Introduction
With the growing popularity of online shopping, many businesses have turned to ecommerce platforms to sell their products and services. If you’re curious about what platform a particular website uses, you’re in luck! In this article, we’ll guide you through several methods to help you determine the ecommerce platform a website is built on.
One of the easiest ways to identify an ecommerce platform is by checking the footer of a website. Often, website owners proudly display the platform they use, along with other information, in the footer section. Scroll to the bottom of the page and look for any mention of the platform.
2. Look for Clues in the Source Code
If the footer doesn’t provide any information about the platform, another effective method is to examine the website’s source code. Right-click on the page and select “View Page Source” (or similar) to access the code. Search for keywords like “ecommerce,” “platform,” or the names of popular platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or Magento.
3. Utilize BuiltWith
BuiltWith is a website analysis tool that can help you identify the technologies powering a website. Go to www.builtwith.com and enter the website’s URL in the search bar. BuiltWith will provide you with detailed information about the platform, content management system, hosting provider, and more.
4. Use Wappalyzer
Similar to BuiltWith, Wappalyzer is a browser extension that detects the technologies used by a website. Install the Wappalyzer extension in your browser and visit the website you’re interested in. Click on the Wappalyzer icon in your browser to see the identified technologies, including the ecommerce platform.
5. Look for Platform-Specific URLs
Some ecommerce platforms use specific URLs or paths that can give you a clue about the platform. For example, if you notice “/cart” or “/checkout” in the website’s URL, it might indicate that the site is using a popular platform like Shopify or WooCommerce.
6. Analyze the Design and Functionality
While not foolproof, the design and functionality of a website can often provide hints about the ecommerce platform in use. Different platforms have distinct design templates and features. Familiarize yourself with the characteristics of popular platforms, and compare them to the website you’re investigating.
7. Search for Powered By Logos
Sometimes, website owners proudly display the “Powered by [Platform Name]” logo on their site. Look for these logos in the footer, header, or any other visible location. Clicking on the logo may also lead you to additional information about the platform.
8. Use Ecommerce Detecting Tools
There are various online tools specifically designed to identify the ecommerce platform a website uses. These tools use advanced algorithms to analyze the website’s structure and provide accurate results. Some popular options include WhatRuns, Scan WP, and CMS Detector.
9. Check the Robots.txt File
Robots.txt is a file that provides instructions to search engine crawlers about which parts of a website to index. Sometimes, ecommerce platforms include specific directories or URLs in the robots.txt file, which can give you valuable information about the platform in use.
10. Search for Uncommon URLs
Occasionally, ecommerce platforms use unique URLs or directories that are specific to their platform. Enter common platform-specific URLs, such as “/wp-admin” for WordPress or “/admin” for Magento, directly into the website’s URL to see if they lead to any login or administration pages.
Conclusion
Identifying the ecommerce platform a website uses can be an exciting detective work. By utilizing the methods outlined in this article, including checking the footer, analyzing the source code, and using specialized tools like BuiltWith and Wappalyzer, you can uncover the platform and gain insights into the technology powering the website. Happy investigating!