How do I gift a Steam game?

[JackSpadesSI]

I want to buy a game in Steam for a friend, but he's on vacation right now and I don't know his Steam account name or which email of his is linked with his Steam account. Can I still gift him a game in Steam (I have to do it soon, as it is one of today's sales)?

In other words, does the gifting process just generate a code which I can email him later that he can punch into Steam to redeem the game at a later date?

 

[Nizbot]

When you go to check out, choose Purchase as a Gift. Then select "Store the gift in my inventory to send later."

 

[Soccerman06]

In the purchase options you can click purchase as gift and follow directions.

 

[Snock514]

inb4 "Let me google that for you" link

 

[pw38]

inb4 "Let me google that for you" link

Let me google that for you

 

[Aikouka]

When you go to check out, choose Purchase as a Gift. Then select "Store the gift in my inventory to send later."

This is what I would do, and I do this when I buy games that I don't know whom I will give them to yet.

EDIT:

You can also just send it to his e-mail address and I think he can redeem it on any Steam account. Just to make sure, it may be better to wait.

 

[pontifex]

is he on your friends list? i assume not if you don't know his steam name?

I don't think it needs to be the email address linked with steam, any valid email should do.