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sidebar_label: 'Overview'
sidebar_position: 1
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# Orders

An order in Future Ordering represents a guest's intent to purchase items from a store. It is the central object in the platform — created when a guest starts a session, updated as items and discounts are added, and finalized once the order has been submitted to the Point of Sale (POS) system.

## What is an order?

An order captures everything about a guest's purchase: the items selected, the discounts applied, the payments made, and how the order will be fulfilled. Each order belongs to a single store and is identified by a unique `orderId`.

Orders are structured around a clear lifecycle. Once created, an order moves through a series of states as the guest builds their basket, completes payment, and the order is placed and finalized. See [Order lifecycle](./order-lifecycle.md) for the full state diagram and transition rules.

## Key concepts

- **[Order classification](./order-classification.md)** — Order type, sales channel, and collection details
- **[Order lifecycle](./order-lifecycle.md)** — State machine, transitions, and concurrency control
- **[Basket and items](./basket.md)** — Item structure, unit IDs, discounts, and payments
- **[Order workflows](./workflows.md)** — Post-placement workflows