Overview

Custom fields extend your marketplace's data beyond the standard fields available for data entry. Unlike metadata, custom fields have the advantage of validated data entry based on the underlying attribute. Custom fields use your catalog attributes for the field definitions. The attribute defines the input type and whether a value is required.

You can use custom fields on your products, variants, categories, collections, staff members, and customers. Custom fields can be templated for repeated use with custom fields templates. Alternatively, they can be added directly to parts of your marketplace when your marketplace configuration allows flexible attribute usage.

Sample use cases

The following are examples of how you can use custom fields:

• In a handmade crafts marketplace, products can have a custom field for "Crafting Technique" to specify if the item is knitted, crocheted, or embroidered.
• In a book marketplace, user profiles can have a custom field for "Preferred Genres" to indicate whether they prefer mystery, romance, or other genres.
• In an electronics marketplace, categories can have a custom field for "Warranty Period" to inform customers if the warranty is 1 year, 2 years, or more.
• In an event listings marketplace, products can have a custom field for "Event Date" to specify when the event will take place.

Custom field components

• Attribute: Defines the underlying data type, label, and whether a value is required for a custom field.
• Custom field: An instance of an attribute applied to a specific part of your marketplace, like a product or category.
• Custom field template: Templates attributes for usage across an an entire instance of part of your marketplace, like all categories or users.

Set up overview

Setting up custom fields involves the following tasks:

1. Adding an attribute to define the custom field data.
2. Assigning the attribute to a custom field template, or directly to the item if you have a flexible template strategy.