---
title: Categories (UI)
slug: commerce-connect-15/docs/categories-ui
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-07-30T20:34:42.000Z
---

Applying a category to a product adjusts a catalog's structure and range to optimize the selling potential of its products. Categorization also lets you:

- Create categories.
- Edit or delete existing categories.
- Change a product's primary and secondary categories.

:::hint{type="info"}
**Note**
When managing a catalog, consider the maintenance and performance of its structure. Do not create hierarchies of categories, products, or variants that are too deep. On the other hand, a flat catalog structure with too many entries in a category can negatively impact performance.
:::

Categorization involves the following tasks:

- **Move** – Lets you restructure a catalog by moving a catalog entry to another primary category. Related products and variants are also moved. Links to other categories and catalog entries are kept intact.
- **Duplicate** – Creates a copy of a catalog entry in a catalog location.
- **Link** – Another term for assigning additional categories.
- **Detach** – Removes a link.

## Create a category

A category typically organizes catalog entries, such as women's shoes. Categories can also hold their own rich content, including assets and descriptions of *wine regions* for a subset of wine products.

1. From the **Commerce** > **Catalog** interface, go to the catalog or category node where you want to create the category.
2. Choose **+** > **Category**.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/pRtMcw9d5ElLwwppGwh-m_be3524b0b9a8f113813dfd1da852fff84493f68d07d51bd18715311d22056146-image.png)

Or, from a catalog node, click to open the context menu and select **New** > **Category**.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/2eJePkhWBdt-c-pXMmrld_6c2a2108c609b40b8748034941144597c5982984c484a73db3c6ca868e5b26fa-image.png)

3. Enter a **Name** for the category.

![Screenshot of the Name field used when creating a category.](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/-Zozq7MXTZg1Yr0NC2RQF-20260723-164625.png)

4. Complete the category properties. The system saves the category automatically, but does not make it available on the website until you publish it. Use the **Group** drop-down list to select a section, or type in the filter field to find a specific property.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/CCf3yJVz00k2J_TfM4mIv_16a8f9a08bb27dd0d140677c8638c7a9c2b9bcfc53aff1035f9a38d0d7a36887-image.png)

### View an item's categories

To view an item's categories, select a catalog entry. In the details panel, select **Group** > **Belongs to**.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/tcG5ptsWMESeEx12cn8av_9d0026ebe21faf58e91f6d5a80a07f614898bd2d28bfcb480175b519daad6cb2-image.png)

### View items assigned to a category

To view all items assigned to a category, such as *Mens Shirts*, select it from the catalog tree. Its items display in the center of the page.

## Edit a category

1. In the **Catalog** tree, select the category, such as *Mens Shirts*.
2. From the context menu, click **Edit**.
3. Update the category information you want to change, such as the name, SEO information, or description.
4. Publish the changes, or schedule for later publishing using the save and publish flow for content.

## Archive a category

Archiving a category triggers different outcomes depending on how the category links to catalog entries or other categories:

- If a category links to other categories, the system removes links to the archived category but leaves other category links intact.
- The system also deletes categories, products, and variants linked *only* to the archived category.

:::hint{type="warning"}
**Caution**
If you archive a category with many subitems, the deletion may take a while.
:::

To archive a category, select it in the catalog tree, then click **Archive** from the context menu.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/AC5U4VQRnspj8yjWAUq33_ece105da677e18f57f1440b293c567efaa5db7c69c68514b84badf3c0af69f5c-image.png)

To restore archived content, click **Archive** from the **Catalogs** panel. See [Catalog entries](docId\:ltg9XEtH5kisCtmzKFh84) for more information about **Archive** operations.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/0EIYc2zgK4liPXRbGM6Qa_e039b628b5cfc000bf6457431d06b3380b37d659f733612ef7bdef10ad0941bb-image.png)

## Assign additional categories

Assign one primary category and any number of additional categories to a catalog entry. Both appear in two places on the product:

- On the product's **Categories** page.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/DBuSkOzBnmr3iBezB0WxB_efe9870aa0670fd22dadbd0c43f4200a5280cc9f9edf47f6acfc8346fded80d5-image.png)

- In the product's **Belongs to** section.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/BrbvVORKJ5iIeSMZye5kI/MPdH7OZSyaMpLgGUvv5io_50b9ee416eb5bcf36112a1a052a1e95422086d4ede9e8e63b0218b279a3f998a-image.png)

The primary category is the product's *home* location — the single category where the product actually lives. If a product's URL derives from the **Name in URL** property, the URL uses the primary category's path. Moving a product to another primary category changes its URL accordingly.

Additional categories let the same product appear in more than one place in the catalog without creating a duplicate. The product record stays in its primary category, and any edits you make propagate to every location where the product is linked.

For example, consider a product named *Men's Black Puma Sneakers* whose primary category is *Men's Shoes*. To feature the sneakers in a seasonal promotion:

1. Create a *Summer Sale* category.
2. Open the *Men's Black Puma Sneakers* product and add *Summer Sale* as an additional category.

The sneakers now appear in both *Men's Shoes* (their primary category) and *Summer Sale*. Shoppers browsing either category see the same product, and the product's URL still reflects the *Men's Shoes* primary path.

### How primary category affects its variants

Moving a catalog entry does not move its variants' primary categories. Expanding the moved catalog entry in its new location still shows its variants, which can make it look like the variants moved too — but each variant keeps its original primary category.

If you want to move a catalog entry *and* its variants, expand the entry, then select it and all variants before moving.

### Assign a primary category

When you [create a catalog entry](docId\:ltg9XEtH5kisCtmzKFh84), you typically first select its category. That becomes the entry's primary category.

### Change a catalog entry's primary category

1. Pin the catalog tree so it does not move.
2. Select the catalog entry whose primary category you want to change.
3. Drag it to the new primary category.
4. In the **Select Action** dialog box, click **Move**.

As an alternative, select the catalog entry, select **Cut**, move to the new category, and select **Paste**.

### Assign additional categories

1. Go to the catalog entry you want to link.
2. Click **Select view**, then **Categories**.
3. Click **+ Add Category**.
4. Go to the category you want to add, then click **Add**.

As an alternative, select the catalog entry, select **Copy**, move to the new category, select **Paste**, and in the **Select Action** dialog box, choose **Link**.

### Edit additional categories

1. Go to the category entry whose additional categories you want to edit.
2. Click **Select view**, then **Categories**.
3. To *add* an additional category, click **+ Add Category**. To *remove* an additional category, click the corresponding **Remove**.

### Assign a category to another category

You can also assign a category as an additional category of another category. When you do, every catalog entry linked to the original category is also linked to the new category.

1. Go to the category where you want to add an additional category.
2. Click **Select view**, then **Categories**.
3. Click **+ Add Category**.
4. Go to the category you want to add, then click **Add**.