{"id":15247,"date":"2022-04-14T11:59:37","date_gmt":"2022-04-14T09:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/pim-wiki\/product-categories-categorization-rules\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T20:18:29","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T18:18:29","slug":"product-categories-categorization-rules","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-wiki\/product-categories-categorization-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"Product Categories \/ Categorization Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"15247\" class=\"elementor elementor-15247 elementor-4889\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;ha_cmc_init_switcher&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\" wpc-filter-elementor-widget=\"1\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e050581 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e050581\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c98ccfa\" data-id=\"c98ccfa\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-552bc17 elementor-hidden-desktop elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-mobile elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"552bc17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Product Categories \/ Categorization Rules<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2aa320 elementor-widget elementor-widget-ha-breadcrumbs happy-addon ha-breadcrumbs happy-addon-pro\" data-id=\"e2aa320\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"ha-breadcrumbs.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"ha-breadcrumbs\"><li class=\"ha-breadcrumbs-item ha-breadcrumbs-start\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/\" rel=\"home\"><span class=\"ha-breadcrumbs-text\"><span class=\"ha-breadcrumbs-home-icon\"><span class=\"fas fa-home\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/span>PIM Consultants<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00e39d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00e39d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>In brief:<\/strong> Categorization rules define how products are assigned within a category tree: whether only to the lowest-level categories (leaves) or also to parent nodes, and whether a product can belong to one or multiple categories.<\/p><h2>Key rules<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Leaves only or nodes too:<\/strong> Many companies only allow products at the lowest level. This makes every assignment unambiguous, and parent categories automatically display all products beneath them. If products are also assigned to parent nodes, the tree can quickly become difficult to navigate.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Single or multiple assignments:<\/strong> In the internal master category tree, each product should have exactly one place. In shop or catalog trees, however, it can appear more than once, for example under both \u201cGarden furniture\u201d and \u201cSpecial offers\u201d.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No overlap:<\/strong> Categories at the same level must not overlap in scope, otherwise the same products end up in different places.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Depth and breadth:<\/strong> Three to five levels are usually enough. Trees that are too deep are harder to maintain, while those that are too shallow make navigation difficult.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Why rules matter<\/h2>\n<p>The category tree often determines <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-wiki\/properties-attributes\/\">attributes<\/a> and mandatory fields. Inconsistent assignments can leave products with missing or incorrect attributes. Clear rules are therefore part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-wiki\/data-modelling\/\">data modeling<\/a> and should be established before data is imported.<\/p>\n<h2>Example<\/h2>\n<p>A bed retailer creates the tree \u201cBeds &gt; Bed frames &gt; Children&#8217;s beds\u201d. A child&#8217;s bed is assigned only to \u201cChildren&#8217;s beds\u201d, but automatically also appears under \u201cBed frames\u201d and \u201cBeds\u201d. In the shop, it can additionally appear in the promotional category \u201cChildren&#8217;s rooms\u201d without changing the master tree.<\/p><h2>See also<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-wiki\/product-categories-product-categories\/\">Product Categories \/ Product Categories<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-wiki\/classifications-product-classification-classes\/\">Classifications<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-wiki\/catalogues\/\">Catalogs<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-wiki\/data-modelling\/\">Data Modeling<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-wiki\/inheritance\/\">Inheritance<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-906208f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"906208f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"background:#F5F9FB;border-left:4px solid #0F6E99;padding:24px 28px;margin:8px 0;\">\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:20px;font-weight:600;color:#2F3438;\">How well is your product data set up?<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 20px;\">Our vendor-independent assessment evaluates your data model, governance, processes and systems, showing how ready you are for PIM and AI.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:0;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/agentic-readiness-assessment\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:14px 28px;background:#0F6E99;color:#FFFFFF;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;border-radius:4px;\">Request an assessment<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin:16px 0 0;\">Or complete the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/pim-checklist\/\">PIM checklist<\/a> first.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51021a8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"51021a8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"DefinedTerm\",\"name\":\"Categorization Rules\",\"description\":\"Categorization rules define how products are assigned within a category tree: whether only to the lowest-level categories (leaves) or also to parent nodes, and whether a product can belong to one or multiple categories.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/pim-wiki\/produktkategorien-kategorisierungsregeln\/\",\"inDefinedTermSet\":{\"@type\":\"DefinedTermSet\",\"name\":\"PIM Wiki\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/pim-wiki\/\"}}<\/script>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aed2cb6 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"aed2cb6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bd93426\" data-id=\"bd93426\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c14463 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0c14463\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:50}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PIM KNOWLEDGE<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-478e7fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"478e7fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">News &amp; Blog<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-97c7faa elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"97c7faa\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-af234a4\" data-id=\"af234a4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4efe2ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4efe2ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Do you have any questions?<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-380441b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"380441b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">We\u2019re happy to advise you.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3343408 elementor-align-center elementor-mobile-align-justify elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"3343408\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/contact\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Contact<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Product Categories \/ Categorization Rules PIM Consultants In brief: Categorization rules define how products are assigned within a category tree: whether only to the lowest-level categories (leaves) or also to parent nodes, and whether a product can belong to one or multiple categories. Key rules Leaves only or nodes too: Many companies only allow products [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"parent":15140,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15247","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15247"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15332,"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15247\/revisions\/15332"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pim-consultants.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}