When I buy a game on the Xbox store do I receive a digital code?

If you buy it, it will be tied to your account. Unfortunately 360 games don't offer the gifting option.

Ok, then why do i have the option to buy a digital copy of each game, including Gears 1 and 3?

If i go to the store on my xbox one console, i have the option to buy the game.

So i can buy them from the xbox store but i cannot use a redeem code for them.

Also, when inserting the Gears 1 disc, it downloads the digital game on my xbox one as per the console's requirements.

Where does that download come from?

I bought 1 game online for the 360, beat it in a couple days and realized I couldn't sell it or do anything with it and that's when I learned buying digital downloads is stupid, they cost the same price as they do at the store except there is $0 to be made
from it when you're done. No trade in value, nothing. If Xbox wanted they could do a game transfer system, each digital copy comes with a transfer code and whoever puts the code in their Xbox its their game and they get a new code in case they want to sell
it later.

Hi L0RD Vapor,

Are you referring to the WoW, Star Craft, ect., items? If so you don't get the items until May 24th. If you buy a physical copy of the game these codes are included inside the game. If you purchase digital I would imagine that's when you can link your game
with Battle.net, and then get the code. See the Blizzard blog post on
digital items here.

Q. What if I digitally pre-purchase Origins Edition from the PlayStation Store or Xbox Games Store?

A. Players who digitally pre-purchase Origins Edition from the PlayStation Store or Xbox Games Store will be eligible to receive their in-game goodies starting on May 24.

I don't think these are real emails. You receive the 25-digit code to activate in your account when you buy the gift card from the Microsoft Store and it doesn't expire either.