Welcome to the Magento 2 documentation for end users. Magento 2 is a comprehensive e-commerce platform that offers powerful tools for building and managing online stores. Whether you’re a store owner, manager, or part of a marketing team, understanding the basic concepts and terminology of Magento 2 is crucial for success. This guide will introduce you to the fundamental aspects of Magento 2, helping you navigate and utilize the platform effectively.
1. Dashboard
The Dashboard is your control center. It provides a quick overview of your store’s performance, including recent orders, average order value, top search terms, revenue, and more. It’s the first thing you’ll see after logging in to the Magento 2 admin panel.
2. Products
Products are the goods or services you sell. Magento 2 supports a variety of product types, including:
- Simple Products: A basic product with no options, such as a book or a lamp.
- Configurable Products: Products with options, such as size or color, that customers can select.
- Grouped Products: A collection of simple products that are related but can be purchased individually.
- Virtual Products: Non-tangible items, like services or memberships.
- Bundle Products: Customizable product kits, where customers can choose among options.
- Downloadable Products: Products that can be downloaded, like music or eBooks.
3. Categories
Categories organize your products into hierarchical groups, making it easier for customers to find what they’re looking for. They can be nested to create subcategories, providing a structured way to navigate through your store.
4. Customers
Customers are the individuals or entities that purchase products from your store. Magento 2 allows you to manage customer information, including contact details, billing and shipping addresses, order history, and customer groups.
5. Orders
Orders are requests by customers to purchase your products. An order goes through several statuses from the moment it is placed until it is complete, such as pending, processing, and complete.
6. Invoices, Shipments, and Credit Memos
- Invoices are records of payment for an order.
- Shipments are records of the products being sent to the customer.
- Credit Memos are records of refunds to the customer.
7. CMS (Content Management System)
The CMS allows you to create and manage pages, blocks, and widgets. Pages can be used for content like your “About Us” page, blocks are reusable sections of content, and widgets are small blocks that can be inserted into pages or blocks for added functionality.
8. Promotions and Coupons
Magento 2 offers various tools to create promotions and coupons to incentivize purchases. These can include discounts, free shipping, and buy-one-get-one-free offers, among others.
9. Attributes and Attribute Sets
- Attributes are characteristics of a product, such as color, size, or material.
- Attribute Sets are groups of attributes that are used to define specific types of products.
10. Store Views
Store Views represent different versions of your store, typically used for different languages or themes. Products and categories remain the same across store views, but you can change how they are presented.
Understanding these basic concepts and terminology is the first step to effectively managing and optimizing your Magento 2 store. As you become more familiar with the platform, you’ll discover the flexibility and power it offers for creating a successful online business.