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## Resource: Terminology

## Article: Terminology

## Article Link: https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/terminology.md

## Article Content:

# Terminology

The Catalog V3 APIs allow you to manage Wix Stores product catalogs. For an overview of all available services, see [Introduction to Catalog V3](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/introduction.md).

This article contains a comprehensive list of the various terms and concepts used in Catalog V3 and its APIs.

## Actual price

The current selling price of a [variant](#variant). This is the price customers pay at checkout.

## Brand

A manufacturer or brand identity associated with a [product](#product). Brands are managed through the [Brands API](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/brands-v3/introduction.md) and can be assigned to products for organization and filtering.

## Category

A hierarchical grouping for organizing [products](#product). Categories can be nested up to 5 levels deep and are managed through the [Categories API](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/categories/introduction.md).

## Choice

A specific value in an [option](#option) or [modifier](#modifier). For example, "Red" and "Blue" are choices in a "Color" option, and "Small", "Medium", and "Large" are choices in a "Size" option.

## Compare-at price

The original price of a [variant](#variant) before a discount, displayed with a strikethrough in the storefront.

## [Customization](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/customizations-v3/introduction.md)

A reusable entity that defines customer selections for a [product](#product). Customizations can be either [options](#option) or [modifiers](#modifier). Customizations are stored independently and can be assigned to multiple products.

## Default location

The automatically created [location](#location) used for [inventory items](#inventory-item) that don't have a specific location assigned. Every store has 1 default location.

## Default variant

For [products](#product) without [options](#option), the single [variant](#variant) with an empty `choices` array. This default variant holds the product's price, SKU, and other variant-level data.

## Fulfiller

A 3rd-party app that provides fulfillment services, such as dropshipping or print-on-demand. Fulfillers can define editing restrictions on [products](#product) they create through the [Product Restrictions Service Plugin](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/service-plugins/product-restrictions-v3/introduction.md).

## Handle

A user-defined unique identifier for a [product](#product), useful for cross-platform consistency. Unlike a [slug](#slug), the handle doesn't change when the product name changes.

## Info section

A content block displayed on product pages containing detailed information such as shipping details, return policies, or care instructions. Info sections are managed through the [Info Sections API](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/info-sections-v3/introduction.md).

## [Inventory item](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/inventory-items-v3/introduction.md)

A record tracking stock for a specific [variant](#variant) at a specific [location](#location). The combination of variant ID and location ID is unique. Inventory items are managed through the Inventory Items API.

## [Location](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/stores-locations-v3/introduction.md)

A physical place configured for inventory management, such as a warehouse, retail store, or fulfillment center.

## Modifier

A [customization](#customization) that collects additional information from customers without creating [variants](#variant) or affecting inventory. For example, a "Gift Message" modifier allows customers to enter custom text. Modifiers can have a price add-on but don't have their own SKU or inventory.

## Option

A [customization](#customization) that creates [variants](#variant). Each combination of option [choices](#choice) creates a separate variant with its own price, SKU, and inventory. For example, a "Size" option with choices "Small", "Medium", and "Large" creates 3 variants.

## Preorder

A status indicating that an [inventory item](#inventory-item) can be ordered before it's in stock, with shipments occurring once inventory becomes available.

## [Product](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/products-v3/introduction.md)

An item in a store, which can be physical or digital. Every product has at least 1 [variant](#variant). Products are managed through the Products API.

## Render type

How a [customization](#customization) is displayed to customers. Available render types include:
- **Text choices**: Text-based selections like "Small", "Medium", "Large".
- **Swatch choices**: Color selections displayed as visual swatches.
- **Free text**: Allows customers to enter free-form text (only available for [modifiers](#modifier)).

## Ribbon

A badge that highlights specific [product](#product) features or promotions, such as "Sale", "New", or "Bestseller". Ribbons are managed through the [Ribbons API](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/ribbons-v3/introduction.md).

A product can have a single **primary ribbon** (the `ribbon` field) and up to 4 **additional ribbons** (the `additionalRibbons` field). The primary and additional ribbons are both displayed on product cards and on the product page.

## Slug

An auto-generated URL-friendly identifier for a [product](#product), derived from the product name. The slug is used in the product's URL path. Unlike a [handle](#handle), the slug updates when the product name changes.

## Tracking method

Specifies how an [inventory item](#inventory-item) tracks availability. The item can either track the current quantity left in inventory or simply indicate availability status (`IN_STOCK` or `OUT_OF_STOCK`) without quantity tracking.

## [Variant](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/business-solutions/stores/catalog-v3/read-only-variants-v3/introduction.md)

A specific purchasable version of a [product](#product). Every product has at least 1 variant. Products with [options](#option) have 1 variant for each combination of option [choices](#choice). Each variant can have its own price, SKU, barcode, weight, and inventory status.