Adding and managing categories

Categories in Magento 2 serve as the backbone of your store’s catalog. They not only help organize your products efficiently but also improve the shopping experience for your customers by making it easier to find products. This guide will walk you through the process of adding and managing categories in Magento 2.

Adding a New Category

  1. Access the Category Management Area: Log into the Magento 2 Admin Panel. Navigate to Catalog > Categories.
  2. Choose the Parent Category: On the left side, you will see the category tree. Select the parent category under which you want to add a new category. If you want to add a top-level category, select ‘Root’.
  3. Add a New Category: Click on the Add Subcategory button if you’re adding a subcategory or Add Root Category for a top-level category.
  4. Category Information:
    • Enable Category: Set Enable Category to Yes to make it visible in your store.
    • Include in Menu: Set to Yes if you want this category to appear in the main navigation menu.
    • Category Name: Enter a name for your category.
    • Content: Add a description or any other content you want to display on the category page. You can also upload an image for the category.
  5. Display Settings:
    • Display Mode: Choose how you want the category to be displayed (e.g., Products only, Static block only, Static block and products).
    • CMS Block: If you selected Static block or Static block and products as the display mode, select the CMS block to be used.
  6. SEO Settings:
    • Fill in the Meta Title, Meta Keywords, and Meta Description for the category to improve its visibility on search engines.
  7. Save the Category: After configuring all the settings, click on the Save button.

Managing Categories

Editing a Category

  1. Select the Category: In the category tree, click on the category you wish to edit.
  2. Make Changes: You can now edit any details of the category, such as its name, content, display settings, and SEO settings.
  3. Save Your Changes: Click on the Save button to apply the changes.

Deleting a Category

  1. Select the Category: Choose the category you want to delete from the category tree.
  2. Delete the Category: Click on the Delete button. You’ll be asked to confirm the deletion. Note that deleting a category will remove all its subcategories and products under it.

Reordering Categories

  1. Drag and Drop: In the category tree, you can simply drag and drop categories to reorder them.
  2. Use of Sort Order: Alternatively, you can set the Position field in the category settings to manually order the categories.

Best Practices

  • Plan Your Category Structure: Before adding categories, plan your category structure. A well-thought-out structure helps customers navigate your store more efficiently.
  • SEO Optimization: Pay attention to the SEO settings of each category. Well-optimized categories can significantly improve your store’s visibility in search engine results.
  • Regularly Update Categories: Keep your categories updated with relevant products and content to ensure a fresh and engaging customer experience.

By following this guide, you can effectively manage your Magento 2 store’s categories, ensuring a well-organized catalog that enhances the shopping experience for your customers.