Should facets & metadata be defined on both items and variations?

Any metadata points consistent across all variations should be included on the item level. Data points specific to variations should be included only on the variation level. It is common to have metadata on the variation level that do not exist at the parent level.

For example, a t-shirt made of cotton has multiple sizes (small, medium, and large).

On the item level, metadata would be defined for the material as the value is consistent across all variations:

• item: material: cotton

On each variation, metadata would be defined for the size, as it differs across all variations:

• variation 1: size: small
• variation 2: size: medium
• variation 3: size: large

You can include metadata during your catalog upload. Once uploaded, you can configure facets for both materialand size to make these options available as filters on a results page. Doing so would ensure that cotton appears in the material filter and sizes small, medium, and large appear in the sizes filter.

You can configure facets using the Constructor dashboard or our API. A facet must be configured to appear for an end user on a results page.