Vending machine

A self-service machine that dispenses goods or provides services after receiving payment or another form of authorization.

Coin acceptor: A device that identifies and validates coins inserted into a machine. It lets a vending machine distinguish accepted coins from invalid ones.
Automated retail: Retail sales conducted through technology with little or no staff involvement. Vending machines are a longstanding form of automated retail.
Hero of Alexandria: An ancient Greek engineer known for describing ingenious mechanical devices. His first-century coin-operated holy-water dispenser is an early vending-machine design.
Snack vending machine: A vending machine that sells packaged snacks. Packaged snacks are among the most familiar vending-machine products.
Unattended retail: Retail conducted without staff continuously present at the point of sale. Vending machines make unattended sales possible in locations without shop workers.
Cashless payment: Payment made electronically without transferring physical cash. Card and mobile payments let vending machines operate without coin handling.
Point of sale: The place or system where a customer pays for a purchase. A vending machine contains its own unattended point-of-sale system.
Coin-operated machine: A machine activated by inserting a coin, often to release a product or service. Coin operation was the central early method of authorizing vending.
Beverage vending machine: A vending machine that sells drinks, chilled or at ambient temperature. Beverage machines use product-specific storage and dispensing systems.
Convenience store: A small retail store offering everyday goods, usually for quick purchases. It offers a staffed alternative to vending for nearby, immediate purchases.

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