Amazon is a popular online retailer that allows customers to find and purchase a wide variety of products. It uses Linux-based technology to manage queries, historical data, and load information into its systems. Early on, Amazon introduced secure payment processing to allow customers to shop safely online. The company aims to be the most customer-centric retailer by helping people find anything they want to buy, but achieving that goal is challenging. Amazon has advantages like low costs, marketing support for other websites, and a free platform for other sellers.