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 > Clothing Tops > Shirts, 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:

Android

1. From the Shopify app, go to Products > All products.
2. Tap a product or add a new one.
3. In the Category section, complete either of the following steps:
   • Tap Select category, search for your product’s category, and then select the most accurate result from the Category list.
   • Tap Select category, tap through each level of the categories and subcategories to find the most accurate product category, and then tap the category to select it.
4. Category metafields display in the Metafields section. To select and add entries, tap View all, tap the category metafield, and then tap again to complete any of the following steps:
   • Tap an entry to select it.
   • Search for an entry and tap to select it.
   • Tap + to add a new entry, fill out the fields, and then tap 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:

Android

1. From the Shopify app, go to Products > All products.
2. Tap a product.
3. If you have no variant options, then in the Variants section, tap + Add options like size or color. If you have variant options, then in Options section, tap Edit, and then tap Add option.
4. If a category metafield is available to connect to, then tap to 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 by tapping Add value, and then tapping the values that you want to add.
5. Optional: If you want to add custom option values, then type the option in the Add value field. Tap + Add {option name}, fill out the entry fields, and then tap ✓.
6. Tap ✓ to save the product.

Disconnect a variant from category metafields

You can disconnect a category metafield from a variant.

Steps:

Android

1. From the Shopify app, go to Products > All products.
2. Tap the product that you want to edit.
3. In the Options section, tap Edit, and then tap the option that you want to disconnect from your category metafield.
4. Tap Connected to metafield, and then tap Disconnect.
5. Tap ✓ 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:

Android

1. From the Shopify app, go to Products > All products.
2. Tap 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:
   • Tap Select category, enter your product’s category, and then select the most accurate result from the Category list.
   • Tap Select category, tap through each level of the categories and subcategories to find the most accurate product category, and then tap the category to select it.
4. In the Options section, tap Edit.
5. To connect the your variant option to a category metafield, complete either of the following tasks:
   • Tap an existing option, tap No connected source, and then tap the category metafield that you want to connect.
   • Tap Add option, and then tap the category metafield that you want to connect.
6. A dialog displays with a message that the existing values will be cleared. Tap Continue.
7. Tap ✓.

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:

Android

1. From the Shopify app, go to Products > All products.
2. Tap the product with category metafields that you want to edit or add.
3. To edit category metafields on a specific product, do either of the following:
   • For category metafields connected to variant options: In the Options section, tap Edit, and then tap the variant options that you want to edit or add values to. Tap Add value, and then View all. Select additional values. Tap Save.
   • For category metafields that aren't connected to variant options: In the Metafields section, tap View all, and then tap the category metafield. Select additional values. Tap Save.
4. To add category metafields to a specific product, do either of the following:
   • For category metafields connected to variant options: In the Options section, tap Edit, and then tap the variant options that you want to edit or add values to. Tap Add value, and then View all. Tap +. Fill in the fields for the new entry for your category metafield. Tap ✓.
   • For category metafields that aren't connected to variant options: In the Metafields section, tap View all, and then tap the category metafield. Tap +. Fill in the fields for the new entry for your category metafield. Tap ✓.

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:

Android

1. From the Shopify app, go to ☰ > Content.
2. Tap Metaobjects.
3. Tap the entry that you want to edit.
4. Edit the fields as needed.
5. Tap ✓.

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.