Products
Product categories
Organize your product catalog with hierarchical categories that enable structured navigation and automatic URL generation.
The product categories functionality allows you to organize your product catalog into a hierarchical structure. Categories form a tree where each category can have multiple subcategories but only one parent.
Key features
Categories provide several built-in capabilities:
- Hierarchical structure – Each category can have multiple subcategories but only one parent
- Automatic URL generation – URLs are assigned based on category name and configured URL format
- Channel availability – Categories are automatically available in channels where at least one assigned product is available
- Localization support – Names, descriptions, and web metadata can be localized
- Dual descriptions – Two localizable description fields for flexible content management
- Dual images – Two configurable images with automatic size generation on upload
- Active toggle – Controls publication status
- Hidden flag – Indicates the category should be excluded from menus
Category availability in a channel is dynamically determined by product assignment. If at least one assigned product is available in that channel, the category becomes available there automatically.
Typical use cases
The product categories functionality enables several ways to organize products and improve navigation.
1. Structuring product catalogs
Create logical hierarchies to organize products by type, department, or theme. Examples include:
- Building a Clothing > Men's > Shirts hierarchy for apparel.
- Organizing Electronics > Computers > Laptops for tech products.
2. Enabling site navigation
Use categories as the foundation for menu structures and navigation elements. Examples include:
- Creating main navigation menus based on top-level categories.
- Building breadcrumb trails from category hierarchy.
3. Managing product groupings
Assign products to categories to create browsable collections. Examples include:
- Grouping products by brand, season, or collection.
- Creating promotional categories for special campaigns.
4. Controlling visibility
Use active and hidden flags to manage category presentation. Examples include:
- Hiding internal categorization while keeping it active for filtering.
- Deactivating seasonal categories outside their relevant periods.
Related functionality
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Products | Products are assigned to categories to determine their organization and availability. |
| Management API | Enables creating and updating categories programmatically. |
| Merchant Center | Provides a UI for managing category hierarchies and settings manually. |
Related