# Categories

Learn how to create, edit, and delete Categories.

Only users in Teams with appropriate [permissions](/merchant-center/user-permissions.md#categories) can view and edit Categories.
The permissions are managed by the Administrators Team in your Organization.

Categories let you organize your product catalog, improve site navigation, and boost sales through targeted category promotions.

## Create a Category

1. Go to **Categories > Add category**.

2. Add basic category information.

   - For **Category name**, enter localized names for the Category.
   - Optional: For **Category description**, enter localized descriptions for the Category.
   - Optional: For **Category key**, enter a unique identifier value for the Category.
   - Optional: For **External ID**, enter a unique identifier value for the Category, which can be used to identify the Category across external systems.
   - For **Category order (orderHint)**, enter a decimal value between 0 and 1. This is useful when sorting your Categories; when sorted in an ascending order, those with a lower value (for example, 0.05) are higher in the list than those with a higher value (for example, 0.07).
   - Optional: If present, select a Custom Field for the Category and enter a value for it.

     Custom Fields are defined using the [Custom Fields API](/api/projects/custom-fields.md).

3. Click **Next**.

4. Configure a category location. If it should be a new or parent Category, click **Next**; else, if it's a child Category, select the parent path and click **Next**.

5. Add external search information for search engine optimization (SEO).

   - For **URL slug**, enter localized slugs for the Category to be used by external search engines. A Category can have the same slug for different locales, but they are unique across the Project.
   - Optional: For **Meta title**, enter localized meta titles for the Category to be used by external search engines. To use the same names for the Category, as defined earlier, select **Use category name**.
   - Optional: For **Meta description**, enter localized descriptions for the Category to be used by external search engines. To use the same descriptions for the Category, as defined earlier, select **Use category description**.

6. Click **Save**.

You can now add Products to the newly created Category.

## Edit a Category

1. Go to **Categories > Category list**.

2. Select the Category and update the general information, Custom Fields, and metadata.

3. To adjust the Category's position, click **Move category** and rearrange the Category as needed.

   Changing the Category order will impact its sorting and visibility in both your catalog and website.

4. Click **Save**.

## Manage Product order within a Category

1. Go to **Categories > Category list**.
2. Select a Category and click the **Products** tab.
3. Click **Manage storefront order**.
4. Drag each Product to a desired position.
5. Click **Save**.

   The **Manage storefront order** page displays only Products assigned specifically to the selected Category.
   Products in parent or child Categories will not be shown.

   The Products are listed based on its [CategoryOrderHints](/urn?urn=ctp%3Aapi%3Atype%3ACategoryOrderHints) value.
   When you modify the display order, this value is automatically updated for the Product.

## Delete a Category

Deleting a Category deletes all associated child Categories.

1. Go to **Categories > Category list**.
2. Select the Category and click the delete icon.
3. On the confirmation dialog, confirm the action.

## View change history

To view a historical log of changes made to a Category, select a Category and click **Open change history** on the Category's details page.

## Related pages

- [Area overview page with navigation](/merchant-center.md)
- [Previous page: Product Selections](/merchant-center/product-selections.md)