Shopping carts are tools used by supermarkets and other self-service stores to store goods for customers. They come in various types, including standard, A-frame, and American-style, with some models equipped with child seating. Physical shopping carts utilize real-time weight monitoring and miniature camera gesture recognition technology, with some integrating scanning and checkout hardware for "pre-checkout" functionality. Smart shopping carts feature barcode scanning, automatic billing, and indoor navigation, supporting a shopping mode where customers can select items while scanning.
The ownership of the shopping carts belongs to the supermarket; unauthorized possession may constitute unjust enrichment. Some shopping carts have safety warning signs affixed; guardians are responsible for any injuries to children caused by improper use. In certain situations, there has been a phenomenon of shopping carts being stolen in large numbers; supermarkets have implemented facial recognition systems to monitor repeated cart-stealing behavior.