---
sidebar_label: 'Categories'
sidebar_position: 4
---

# Categories

A **category** is a visual grouping of products that helps customers find what they want. Categories are included in a menu and control both which products are shown and in what order.

## Root categories, subcategories, and upsell categories

A category can be configured as a subcategory of another category, enabling two-level nesting. The maximum depth is two levels, to keep the interface usable.

A category is visible on the customer-facing menu listing by default. Setting `isVisibleOnCategoryLists: false` hides a category from the standard listing — it can still be surfaced through an upselling rule.

**Example:** Given these four categories:

| Category | Configuration |
|----------|---------------|
| C1 | C2 is a subcategory of C1 |
| C2 | No special configuration |
| C3 | `isVisibleOnCategoryLists: false` |
| C4 | No special configuration |

And three menus that include different subsets:

| Menu | Included categories | Result |
|------|---------------------|--------|
| M1 | C1, C2, C3, C4 | Root: C1 (with C2 as subcategory), C4. C3 hidden unless upsold. |
| M2 | C1, C3, C4 | Root: C1 (no subcategories — C2 not included), C4. C3 hidden. |
| M3 | C2, C3, C4 | Root: C2, C4. C3 hidden. |

When C2 is included in the same menu as C1, it appears as a subcategory of C1. When C1 is not included, C2 becomes a root category.