Customer

A person or organization that buys goods or services from a seller. The term can also include someone who regularly receives services, even when another party pays.

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Consumer: A person who uses goods or services, whether or not they bought them. A customer is defined by buying; a consumer is defined by using.
Customer relationship management: Strategies and systems for managing a company’s interactions with current and prospective customers. It organizes customer information and interactions across a business.
Sale: An exchange in which a seller transfers goods or services to a buyer, usually for payment. A completed sale commonly establishes the customer relationship.
Supplier: A person or organization that provides goods or services to another party. A supplier provides value to a business, while a customer receives and pays for it.
Client: A person or organization that receives professional services or advice. Professional relationships often call the service recipient a client rather than a customer.
Customer service: Assistance a seller provides before, during, or after a purchase. It addresses customer needs throughout the buying relationship.
Contract: A legally enforceable agreement that creates obligations between parties. Terms of sale or service can define what a customer and seller owe each other.
Vendor: A person or business that sells goods or services. Vendor names the seller’s role opposite the customer in a transaction.
User (computing): A person who interacts with a computer system, application, or digital service. The person using a product may differ from the customer who pays for it.
Customer experience: A customer’s overall perceptions and responses across interactions with a company. It captures how customers experience the seller beyond the purchase itself.