Add category metafields

You can add category metafields to your store and migrate your existing products to category metafields.

When you assign a standard category, it unlocks a set of pre-defined category metafields. Each category metafield comes with related, default entries. Additionally, you can connect these to your variant options.

For example, if you add the product category Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts & Tops, then you can add category metafields for size, neckline, sleeve length type, top length type, age group, fabric, target gender, clothing features, and color. You can use color as a variant option and add colors such as black and red.

You can edit the color entry for black to be graphite in a single location, and then your variant values are updated anywhere that color is connected. When you use color entries as variant options, you can display variant options as swatches for color options on your storefront products pages.

Learn more about Shopify's Standard Product Taxonomy.

Add category metafields

You can add category metafields when you assign a standard category to one of your products.

Based on information added in your product details, you might have a suggested category displayed in the Category field. After you save your product, any unedited suggestions are confirmed.

Steps:

Desktop

1. From the Shopify admin, click Products.
2. Click a product or add a new one.
3. In the Category section, complete one of the following steps:
   • Search for your product’s category, and then select the most accurate result from the Category list.
   • Click through each level of the categories and subcategories to find your product category.
4. Category metafields display in the Category metafields section with the category name, if they're available. Click the field next to the category metafield, and then click again to complete any of the following steps:
   • Select an entry from the drop-down menu.
   • Click Add new entry to create a new metaobject entry for the category metafield. Fill in any of the predefined fields, and then adjust any base values, which connect your entry to Shopify's standardized list of values. Click Save.
   • Select an entry. To edit the entry, click the name and Edit. Edit or change any of the predefined fields, and then adjust any base values, which connect your entry to Shopify's standardized list of values. Click Save.
5. Click Save.

Connect a variant to category metafields

When you're adding a variant, a list of category metafields display that you can connect to or you can create a custom option.

Steps:

Desktop

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products.

2. Click the product that you want to edit.

3. In the Variants section, click + Add options like size or color.

4. If a category metafield is available to connect to, then select it. The option values are automatically filled with any entries you have added to the category metafield. You can select more option values or create new ones.

5. Optional: If you want to add custom option values, then click Edit, and then click Add new entry. Fill out the entry fields, and then click Save.

6. Click Save to save the product.

Disconnect a variant from category metafields

You can disconnect a category metafield from a variant.

Steps:

Desktop

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products.

2. Click the product that you want to edit.

3. In the Variants section, click Edit next to the option that you want to disconnect from your category metafield.

4. Click the category metafield name, and then click Disconnect. The option is removed from the Variants section and placed in the Metafields section.

5. Click Save to save the product.

Migrate existing variant options to category metafields

If you've already created a product with variant options, then you can migrate your values to category metafields and quickly generate multiple new variant combinations. If you use category metafields to create your variant options, then you can edit variant option names in a single location and the names update wherever that category metafield is connected.

For example, if you currently offer three sizes (Small, Medium, and Large) and two colors (Red and Blue), and you want to add a third color Yellow, then this method will create the 3 possible sizes of yellow variants at one time.

Connect the category metafield to an existing option by clicking the dynamic source icon:

Desktop

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
2. Click the product with variant options that you want to migrate to category metafields.
3. Optional: If your product doesn't have a Category, then complete one of the following steps:
   • Enter your product’s category, and then select the most accurate result from the Product category list.
   • Click through each level of the categories and subcategories to find your product category.
   • Click Suggested to accept the suggested category.
4. To connect the your variant option to a category metafield, complete either of the following tasks:
   • Click an existing option, click the dynamic source icon, and then click the category metafield that you want to connect.
   • Click Add another option, and then click the category metafield that you want to connect.
5. Click Save.

Edit or add entries for category metafields

You can edit or add new entries to your category metafields. You can edit entries from the product page in your Shopify Admin or from Content > Metaobjects. When you add new entries, they become available to add to any product connected to the category metafield. When you edit existing entries, they update everywhere that entry is connected.

Edit or add category metafields from the product page

You can add or edit category metafields from the product page for a specific product.

Steps:

Desktop

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products.
2. Click the product with category metafields that you want to edit or add.
3. To edit or add category metafields on a specific product, do either of the following:
   • For category metafields connected to variant options: Click the variant option, and then click the option value field.
   • For category metafields that aren't connected to variant options: In the Category metafields section, click the category metafield.
4. Click the entry that you want to edit, and then click Edit.
5. Edit the fields as needed.
6. Click Save.

Edit or add entries for category metafields from the Content page

You can edit entries for your category metafields from the Content page in your Shopify admin on both desktop and in the Shopify app.

Steps:

Desktop

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Content > Metaobjects.
2. Click the definition name for the category metafield that you want to edit or add entries to.
3. Click the entry.
4. Edit the fields as needed.
5. Click Save.

Add entries to category metafields from the Content page

You can add new entries related to category metafields from the Content page in your Shopify admin on desktop. After you add a new entry, you can use that in any product with the category metafield.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Content > Metaobjects.
2. Click the definition name for the category metafield that you want to edit or add to.
3. Click Add entry.
4. Fill out the fields for your new entry.
5. Click Save.

Shopify's Standard Product Taxonomy limitations

Product options created with Shopify's Standard Product Taxonomy have the following limitations:

• In order to use Shopify's Standard Product Taxonomy to power swatches on Dawn, you must be using the latest version.
• New categories might not be compatible with sales channels. Review your product's sales channels before modifying a published product's category.
• Unit of measurement and dimension type attribute aren't currently available.
• Custom attributes are currently not supported.
• Attributes aren't supported in the following Shopify apps: Search and Discovery and Shopify Bundles.