Taxonomy
The category and subcategory structure a catalog is organized into, which shapes how shoppers browse and how listings get classified.
In practice
A well-structured taxonomy makes browse navigation intuitive and keeps similar products grouped together for comparison; a poorly maintained one leads to products sitting in the wrong category, where the right shoppers never find them.
A marketplace's taxonomy nests "Running Shoes" under Shoes > Athletic > Running, so a shopper browsing that path sees only relevant products, not the entire footwear catalog.
Why it matters
A shopper who can't find a product through normal browse navigation - even if it would show up in search - represents a lost sale a well-structured taxonomy would have prevented.
Worth knowing
- Should be reviewed periodically, since marketplaces occasionally restructure their category trees.
- Placing a product in an overly broad category can dilute its relevance to browse shoppers.
- Works together with attribute mapping - a product needs both the right category and the right attributes.
Start the conversation
Let's talk it through
Tell us where things stand with putting taxonomy into practice and we'll respond with next steps, no forms, no waiting in a queue.
- A specialist replies directly, not a support queue
- Whichever channel is fastest for you, call, WhatsApp or email
- No long-term contract to start the conversation
