Cost per click (CPC) or Pay per click is an Internet advertising model used on search engines, advertising networks, and content websites, such as blogs, where merchants only pay when a user actually clicks on an advertisement to visit the merchant website. Content websites commonly charge a fixed price for a click rather than use a bidding mechanism.

 There are other advertising pricing structures:

• CPC - Cost per click Through
• CPL - Cost per lead (lead usually meaning a free registration)
• CPA - Cost per sale or Action

Seealso: Campaign Method