Last verified: 2026-02-17
Overview
Categories provide a hierarchical structure for organizing your products, similar to folders on a computer. Unlike tags (which are flat labels), categories can have parent-child relationships, allowing you to create detailed product taxonomies like "Electronics > Computers > Laptops".
Categories help you and your buyers navigate large catalogs by grouping related products in a logical structure. They're particularly useful when you have hundreds or thousands of products that need consistent organization.
What happens in the system
Categories form a tree structure - Each category can have subcategories (children) nested within it
Products show their full category path - A laptop might show as "Electronics > Computers > Laptops"
Product counts appear next to categories - Numbers in parentheses show how many products are in each category
Categories can be expanded and collapsed - Click the arrow icon to show or hide subcategories
Editing a category updates all products - Renaming or restructuring categories updates products automatically
Deleting a category removes it from products - Products lose that category assignment but are not deleted
What does NOT happen
Categories do NOT affect pricing or inventory - They are organizational only
Deleting a category does NOT delete products - Products remain but lose that category
Categories are NOT tags - Each product typically has one category path, but can have multiple tags
Subcategories do NOT inherit products - If a product is in "Laptops", it's not automatically in "Computers"
Prerequisites
An active StockApp account with access to Settings
Permission to manage categories (typically Super Admin or Manager role)
Accessing Categories Settings
Click the Settings icon (gear) in the left sidebar
Under Features, click Categories
Click the Categories tab (not "Title generation")
Creating a Top-Level Category
Top-level categories are the root of your taxonomy (e.g., "Electronics", "Furniture", "Apparel").
In the text field at the top, enter the category name
Click the Add Category button
The category appears in the list
Creating a Subcategory
Subcategories nest under existing categories to create hierarchies (e.g., "Laptops" under "Computers").
Find the parent category in the list
Click the plus icon (+) in the Actions column
Enter the subcategory name in the field that appears
Click Add to create the subcategory
Example hierarchy:
Electronics ├─ Computers │ ├─ Laptops │ ├─ Desktops │ └─ Tablets └─ Audio ├─ Headphones └─ Speakers
Tip: Plan your category structure before creating it. Start with broad top-level categories and add subcategories as your catalog grows.
Expanding and Collapsing Categories
Categories with subcategories show an arrow icon:
Collapsed (right arrow ▸) - Subcategories are hidden
Expanded (down arrow ▾) - Subcategories are visible
Click the arrow icon to toggle between expanded and collapsed.
Editing a Category Name
Find the category in the list
Click the pencil icon in the Actions column
Edit the name in the text field
Click the checkmark icon to save, or X icon to cancel
Note: Renaming a category updates it across all products. If you rename "Laptops" to "Portable Computers", all products show the new name.
Deleting a Category
Simple Delete (No Subcategories)
Click the trash icon next to the category
Confirm the deletion
The category is removed from all products
Delete with Subcategories
When you delete a category that has subcategories:
A warning dialog appears showing affected subcategories
Subcategories are promoted up one level - They become children of the deleted category's parent
Products in the deleted category lose that category assignment
Products in subcategories remain in those subcategories
Example:
Before: Electronics > Computers > Laptops After deleting "Computers": Electronics > Laptops
Warning: Deleting categories cannot be undone. Products that were in the deleted category will need to be recategorized manually.
Understanding Product Counts
Numbers in parentheses show how many products are directly in that category:
things that are not laptops (5) - 5 products are in this category
laptops and shit (3) - 3 products are in this category
Important: Product counts show only products directly in that category, not in subcategories.
Viewing Products by Category
The product count is informational only in Settings. To see products in a category:
Go to your Products page
Use the category filter on the left sidebar
Select the category to see all products in it
Categories vs. Tags: When to Use Which
Use Categories When | Use Tags When |
You need hierarchical organization | You need flexible, overlapping labels |
Products fit into one clear category | Products belong to multiple groups |
You want permanent, structured taxonomy | You need temporary or seasonal groupings |
Buyers navigate by drilling down | You want to highlight special collections |
Example:
Category: Electronics > Computers > Laptops
Tags: "New Arrivals", "Black Friday Sale", "Vendor A"
A laptop can be in ONE category path but have MULTIPLE tags.
Best Practices
Planning Your Category Structure
Start simple - Begin with 3-5 top-level categories
Think like your buyers - Use categories they'd naturally look for
Limit depth - Avoid going deeper than 3-4 levels (e.g., Top > Level2 > Level3 > Level4)
Be consistent - Use similar naming patterns across categories
Naming Conventions
Use clear, descriptive names - "Portable Computers" vs "Computers, Portable"
Avoid abbreviations - "Electronics" not "Elec"
Be specific at lower levels - "Laptops" is clearer than "Portable Devices"
Use singular or plural consistently - Pick one style and stick with it
Maintenance
Review quarterly - Remove unused categories, consolidate duplicates
Update as catalog grows - Add subcategories when a category gets too large
Document your structure - Keep a reference of your category hierarchy
Common Issues
Issue: Product count is zero but I know products are in that category
Symptom: Category shows (0) but you're sure products belong there.
Solution:
Go to Products page and filter by that category
Check if products are in a subcategory instead
Product counts only show direct assignments, not subcategories
Issue: Can't delete a category
Symptom: Delete button doesn't work or shows an error.
Solution:
Check if products are assigned to that category
Some systems prevent deleting categories with products
Remove products from the category first, then delete
Issue: Category structure is too complex
Symptom: Too many nested levels make navigation difficult.
Solution:
Flatten the structure - move subcategories up a level
Consolidate similar categories
Use tags for additional organization instead of deep nesting