{"section":"tracks","requestedLocale":"en","requestedSlug":"categories-concept-definition","locale":"en","slug":"categories-concept-definition","path":"docs/en/tracks/vtex-modules-getting-started/catalog-101/categories-concept-definition.md","branch":"main","content":"Categories exist for the purpose of organizing your product assortment within your ecommerce. They work as hierarchical levels of product classification. The organization by category makes your client’s search for a product easier and keeps your catalog organized. \n\nThe three main category levels are called __Department__, __Category__, and __Subcategory__.\n\nCategories are also where you need to configure the Specifications (or Fields), that represent the properties you will add to the products or SKUs. We will have a closer look at the relationship between categories, products, SKUs and specifications during the next steps.\n\n> ℹ️ We suggest that your store’s category trees have no more than three levels of hierarchy. This will allow your customers to browse your store with more ease.\n\n## Department\n\nThe __Department__ is a store’s first category level.\n\nIt is the highest level within the categories tree. More specific categories should be registered within the department.\n\n## Category\n\nThe category tree’s second hierarchy level is called __Category__. This level is under the __Department__ level and above the __Subcategory__ level.\n\n> ℹ️ The term \"category\" is typically used to refer to a generic segmentation concept. At VTEX, the term \"Category\" is also used to refer to the category tree’s second hierarchy level.\n\n## Subcategory \n\nLastly, we have the __Subcategories__. This level is under both the __Department__ and __Category__ levels, according to the classification hierarchy.\n\n## Examples\n\nImagine that an e-commerce’s departments function as large sections of a business. \n\nA drugstore network may have *Departments* called __Prescription Drugs__, __Hygiene__ and __Makeup__. Within each of these three large sections, products are organized into *Categories*, which are then further segmented.\n\nLet’s take a closer look at the __Hygiene__ Department. Within this segment, we can create a category called __Personal Care__. In turn, a *Subcategory* called __Soaps__ can be added to this segment. \n\nCategories are interlinked, therefore, a product associated with the __Soaps__ Subcategory is also part of the __Personal Care__ Category and the __Hygiene__ Department.\n\nThus, if the retailer applies a 10% discount to all __Hygiene__ department products, this discount is cascaded to all categories and subcategories related to this department."}