> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.accentuate.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.accentuate.io/use-case-guides/other-mixed-catalog/product-category-metafield.md).
# Product Category Metafield
### Prerequisites
Before you begin, make sure you have:
* An active Shopify store
* Accentuate Custom Fields installed from the Shopify App Store
* Staff permissions to access Apps in your Shopify admin
* (Recommended) An Online Store 2.0 theme, which allows metafield values to be displayed via the theme editor without touching code
***
### Key Concepts to Know First
Scope — The Shopify object the metafield attaches to. For Product Category, this will be Products.
Namespace & Key — The unique identifier for your field. The namespace groups related fields (e.g. custom) and the key is the specific field name (e.g. product\_category). Together they form custom.product\_category, which is the address used in your theme to pull the value.
Field Data Type — Controls what kind of data the field holds. For Product Category, a Single Select is recommended. Each product typically belongs to one primary category that describes what type of product it is. If your store has products that genuinely belong to multiple categories simultaneously, you can opt for Multi Select instead. Single Select keeps categorization clean and structured for stores with diverse product ranges.
***
### Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1 — Open ACF from your Shopify Admin Go to your Shopify Admin, click Apps in the left sidebar, and open Accentuate Custom Fields. You'll land on the ACF dashboard, which shows the Metafields and metaobjects section with cards for Products, Shops, Metaobjects, and Customers.
Step 2 — Open Product Metafields In the Products card, click the Metafields button. This takes you into the Product Custom Fields screen where you can see all existing fields listed with their types and manage your definitions.
Step 3 — Add a New Section Click the + Add section button in the top-right area of the Product Custom Fields screen. An Add Section modal will open across two pages.
Page 1 — Basic Details:
* Title: Product Category — displayed in bold as a visual header when editing product values (1–50 characters, no HTML)
* Name: product\_category — must be unique within your Product fields (3–64 characters, letters, digits, underscores or dashes only)
* Description: Optionally add a note like The primary category or type of product — supports Markdown
* Color: Leave as the default #dfe3e8, or choose a colour to visually distinguish this section from others in your product field setup
* All fields in this section apply to: Leave as All types unless you want to restrict this to specific product types
* Make visible to the Storefront API: Leave checked (default) — this makes the product category value accessible in themes and custom storefronts
Click Next to continue.
Page 2 — Advanced Settings:
* Repeatable section: Leave unchecked — each product belongs to one category, not a repeating block.
* Include value of first text field: Leave unchecked — not needed for a select-type field.
* Show as collapsed when editing: Leave unchecked — keeps the section expanded by default so it is easy to find and fill in when editing a product.
* Hide section: Leave unchecked — checking this would make the section invisible in the editor entirely.
* Show section even if empty: Optionally check this if you want the Product Category section to always appear on products, even before a value has been assigned.
* Exclude from layout: Leave unchecked — only tick this if you want the section excluded from ACF's layout editing tools.
Click Done to save the section.
Step 4 — Add the Product Category Field Once the section is saved, click + Add field to add the actual field inside it. Fill in the details:
* Label: Product Category
* Namespace: accentuate (ACF's default, or use your own e.g. products)
* Key: product\_category
* Field Data Type: Select Single Select — this restricts input to your predefined category options
Step 5 — Add Your Product Category Options Once Single Select is chosen, add each allowed value one by one. Since this is a mixed/other category, customize your options based on your specific product range. Examples might include:
Apparel & Fashion:
* Clothing
* Footwear
* Accessories
* Activewear
* Outerwear
Home & Garden:
* Furniture
* Decor
* Kitchen & Dining
* Bedding
* Outdoor & Garden
* Lighting
* Storage & Organization
Health & Beauty:
* Skincare
* Haircare
* Makeup
* Fragrance
* Personal Care
Sports & Outdoors:
* Sports Equipment
* Camping & Hiking
* Fitness Gear
* Water Sports
Electronics & Tech:
* Computers & Laptops
* Mobile Devices
* Audio & Headphones
* Cameras & Photography
* Smart Home Devices
Books & Media:
* Books
* E-Books
* Audio Books
* Videos & DVDs
* Magazines
Toys & Games:
* Board Games
* Toys
* Educational Toys
* Puzzles & Brain Teasers
* Video Games & Consoles
Arts & Crafts:
* Art Supplies
* Craft Materials
* DIY Kits
* Hobby Supplies
Pet Supplies:
* Pet Food
* Pet Accessories
* Pet Toys
* Pet Care
Services:
* Digital Services
* Subscriptions
* Consultations
* Custom Orders
Add, remove, or rename options to match your store's specific product range — existing product values are preserved when you edit the list.
Step 6 — Save Click Save. Your Product Category field will now appear inside its section on every product edit page in your Shopify admin.
***
### Populating Product Category Values on Products
One by one: Open any product in Shopify Admin, scroll to the Product Category section added by ACF, select the appropriate category from the dropdown, and save.
CSV import: Use the Export button to download a CSV template, fill in the product\_category column for each product row, then re-import via the Import button. Best for large catalogs or migrating data from an existing product database.
***
### Displaying Product Category on Your Storefront
Theme Editor (no code, OS 2.0 themes): Go to Online Store → Themes → Customize. Open a product template, click Add Block, select an ACF or Metafield block, choose the Product Category field, position it on the page (typically near the product title or in product details), and save. It will display automatically for any product with a value set.
Liquid Code (all themes): Add this to your product template file where you want the product category to appear:
`{% if product.metafields.custom.product_category %}`
`Category:`
`{{ product.metafields.custom.product_category.value }}
`
`{% endif %}`
If you used a custom namespace (e.g. products), replace custom with your namespace name.
***
### Tips & Best Practices
* Create a focused category list — only add product categories that exist in your current range. A long list of unused options creates confusion for your team when editing products.
* Use mutually exclusive categories — ensure each category is distinct and doesn't overlap with others. If a product could fit multiple categories, choose the PRIMARY one it belongs to.
* Use Product Category for collection automation — in Shopify, create automated collections for each category by filtering on custom.product\_category. This keeps your collections always up to date without manual curation.
* Enable storefront filtering — connect product\_category as a filter in Online Store → Navigation → Filter menus so shoppers can browse by category directly.
* Organize options hierarchically in your list — as shown in Step 5, group related categories together in your options list to keep the dropdown organized and easier to navigate.
* Keep naming consistent — decide on a format (e.g., always use singular "Clothing" not plural "Clothes"; always use specific names like "Skincare" not vague like "Personal Care") and apply it uniformly.
* Review periodically — as your product range evolves, periodically review your category list and add new categories as needed. Remove discontinued categories to keep the list focused.
* Don't duplicate Shopify's native Product Type — if you use Shopify's native Product Type field, avoid duplicating that information in Product Category. Use this field for a broader, storefront-specific categorization.
* Use for merchandising strategy — organize categories in a way that supports your merchandising and marketing strategy. For example, group related categories together to make cross-selling easier.
* Avoid the shopify namespace — it is reserved by Shopify and can cause conflicts. Use custom or a brand-specific name like products.
* Multi-language stores — ACF supports translatable metafields. Mark Product Category as translatable if you need localised category names for different markets.
***
### Quick Reference
| Setting | Value |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Scope | Products |
| Section Title | Product Category |
| Section Name | product\_category |
| Field Label | Product Category |
| Namespace | custom |
| Key | product\_category |
| Full Identifier | custom.product\_category |
| Field Data Type | Single Select |
| Options | Customize based on your product range (Clothing, Footwear, Accessories, Furniture, Electronics, Books, Toys, etc.) |
| Storefront API | Enabled (checked by default) |
| Liquid Reference | {{ product.metafields.custom.product\_category.value }} |
***
For further details, visit the official ACF documentation at help.accentuate.io
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