---
title: Product variants
slug: commerce-connect-14/docs/product-variants
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-23T10:25:34.040Z
---

The `EPiServer.Commerce.Catalog.Linking.ProductVariation` class represents a relation between a product and a variant. To administer those relations, use `EPiServer.Commerce.Catalog.Linking.IRelationRepository` service.

The `Child` property of the `ProductVariation` contains the `ContentReference` of the variant. The class also has a `SortOrder` property, which describes the order of the variants, and a `GroupName` property for grouping variants. The `Quantity` property is not used for variants. `EPiServer.Commerce.Catalog.Linking.EntryRelation` contains default values that can be used: `DefaultGroupName` and `DefaultQuantity`.

A `ProductVariation` is uniquely defined by the `ContentReference` in its `Child` property together with its `Parent` property (referencing the product that has the variant). That is, the same variant cannot be added to a product more than once.

## Get a product's variants

Call the `GetChildren` method of `IRelationRepository` with the `ContentReference` of a product to get the following variants.

Code sample

```csharp
public IEnumerable<ProductVariation> ListVariations(ContentReference referenceToProduct)
      {
        var relationRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IRelationRepository>();
        var variations = relationRepository.GetChildren<ProductVariation>(referenceToProduct);
        return variations;
      }
```

To get the following products, call the `GetParents` method of `ILinksRepository` with the `ContentReference` of a variant:

Code sample

```csharp
public IEnumerable<ProductVariation> GetProductByVariant(ContentReference variation)
      {
        var relationRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IRelationRepository>();
        var products = relationRepository.GetParents<ProductVariation>(variation);
        return products;
      }
```

Or, get a variant's parent product by using entry content **extensions.**

Code sample

```csharp
public IEnumerable<ContentReference> ListParentProduct(EntryContentBase entryContent)
    {
        var parentProductLinks = entryContent.GetParentProducts();
        return parentProductLinks;
    }
```

## Add a variant to a product

Use the `UpdateRelation` method or extension method of `IRelationRepository` to add `ProductVariation` objects to a product. The new variant must have a `Parent ContentReference` and a `Child ContentReference`.

Code sample

```csharp
public void AddVariation(ContentReference referenceToProduct, ContentReference referenceToVariation)
      {
        var relationRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IRelationRepository>();
        var newVariation = new ProductVariation
          {
            SortOrder = 100,
            Parent = referenceToProduct,
            Child = referenceToVariation
          };
        relationRepository.UpdateRelation(newVariation);
      }
```

## Remove variant from a product

To remove a variant from a product, call the `RemoveRelation` method or extension method of `IRelationRepository`, with a `ProductVariation` object matching an existing variant. You can either construct a matching object, or use `GetParents` to get the existing **Relations**, filter out the object you want to remove, and pass it to `RemoveRelation`.

Code sample

```csharp
public void RemoveVariation(ContentReference referenceToProduct, ContentReference referenceToVariation)
      {
        var relationRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IRelationRepository>();
    
        // Define a relation matching the one to remove, or use
        // GetRelations to find the one you want to remove and pass that to
        // RemoveRelation
        var relationToRemove = new ProductVariation
          {
            Parent = referenceToProduct,
            Child = referenceToVariation
          };
    
        // Removes matching ProductVariation, or no action if no match exists
        relationRepository.RemoveRelation(relationToRemove);
      }
```