Self-checkout lets shoppers scan their own barcodes and pay without using a staffed checkout lane.
A typical self-checkout station combines a barcode scanner, touchscreen, payment terminal, receipt printer, and bagging area. After scanning each product, the shopper places it in the bagging area, where the machine may compare the item’s weight with inventory data. Payment can usually be made by card, mobile wallet, or cash, depending on the store.
The technology is often called self-service checkout or assisted checkout because employees still supervise the machines. Staff may correct scanning errors, approve age-restricted purchases, resolve pricing problems, or respond when the system detects a mismatch. Thus, “without a staffed checkout” does not necessarily mean “without any staff nearby.”
Self-checkout differs from contactless payment. Contactless payment describes how someone pays, usually by tapping a card or phone; self-checkout describes who performs the checkout process. The first public self-checkout machines appeared in 1986, and the systems later became common in supermarkets and other high-volume retailers.