Definition: Product Taxonomy

What is product taxonomy?

Product taxonomy refers to the hierarchical classification system used to categorize and organize products based on their attributes, characteristics, and relationships. It provides a structured framework for classifying products into specific categories, subcategories, and attributes that reflect their unique features and characteristics.

Product taxonomy helps retailers establish a standardized and consistent method for organizing their product catalogs. It enables efficient product search and navigation, allowing customers to easily find the products they are looking for based on specific criteria such as brand, type, size, color, or other relevant attributes.

For example, on a fashion eCommerce platform, the product taxonomy for men's clothing could include the following hierarchy:

• Category: Clothing
  • Subcategory: Men's Clothing
    • Attribute: Shirts
      • Attribute: T-Shirts
        • Attribute: Short Sleeve T-Shirts
        • Attribute: Long Sleeve T-Shirts
      • Attribute: Polo Shirts
    • Attribute: Pants
      • Attribute: Jeans
      • Attribute: Chinos
  • Subcategory: Women's Clothing
    • Attribute: Dresses
      • Attribute: Maxi Dresses
      • Attribute: Cocktail Dresses
    • Attribute: Tops
      • Attribute: Blouses
      • Attribute: T-Shirts

In this example, the product taxonomy starts with the broad category of "Clothing" and further divides it into subcategories such as "Men's Clothing" and "Women's Clothing." Within each subcategory, specific attributes like "Shirts" or "Pants" are defined. These attributes can then be further refined based on additional attributes, allowing customers to navigate the product catalog and find the desired products with ease.