Variations (also known as parent-child relationships) are sets of products that are related to one another by certain identifiers, such as size, color or flavor. Good variation relationship listings allow buyers to compare and choose products based on different attributes such as size, color, or other characteristics from the available options on a single product detail page. For example, a customer searching for a short-sleeved T-shirt might click a product detail page for a T-shirt that comes in three sizes (small, medium, and large), and three colors (blue, red, and black); rather than having to browse separate pages for each color and size, the customer can select the preferred size, and choose the color from the three available color variations on the same page.
Examples of good variation families are:
Here is an example of how a variation appears to customers:
There are four components to variation relationships:
The Amazon catalog uses the parent listing to establish relationships between the child products. For example, if two shirts have the same parent, then they are related and are considered child products.
The child product is a variation of the parent product, and one parent product usually has multiple child products. Each child product has a characteristic that is different from other child products, for example, size or color. A child product can have only one parent product. The parent product and child products make a "variation family."
The variation theme is the characteristic that is different from one child product to another child product. Child products can have more than one variation theme. For example, t-shirts could have the variation themes of color and size. Different product categories may have different variation themes that you can use to list your products. For example, in the clothing, accessories and luggage category, the variation themes of the child products could be size and color. In the pet supplies category, the variation themes of the child products could be flavor, scent and quantity.
Grouping attributes define how the products can be variated together. All products in a variation must share the same grouping attribute to be part of the same family. For example, "brand" (such as, Amazon Essentials) is a grouping attribute for apparel. This means that a variation family in apparel will only include products that have the same "brand" (Amazon Essentials). Grouping attributes are required and must be identical across a variation family. Any two products with the same product type that share the same grouping attribute values can be grouped together in the same variation family.
The following examples illustrate relationship listings in different product categories:
Apparel: In the below image you can see that short sleeve t-shirt is the parent product. A variation family has been created with "child" products of different colors and sizes. Hence the variation theme is color/size. Each of the combinations will be considered a child product. Example: child 1 is short sleeve t-shirt, color blue and size small; child 2 is short sleeve t-shirt, color blue and size large.
Electronics and computers: In the below image you can see that Computer monitor is the parent product. A variation family has been created with "child" products of different colors and sizes. Hence the variation theme is color/size. Each of the combinations will be considered a child product. Example: child 1 is a computer monitor, color black and size 21.5 inches; child 2 is a computer monitor, color black and size 23 inches.
If an appropriate variation theme exists for your products, you must include your products in a parent-child relationship.
Not all related products can be listed together in a variation relationship. For example, Amazon Essentials socks and Amazon Essentials shirts are both clothing, but they have different usages for a customer and they would not be placed in a variation relationship together. The following questions can help you to determine whether certain products can be listed together in a variation relationship:
To learn how to list parent and child products, go to Create parent-child relationships.
Category | Grouping attributes | Variation themes |
---|---|---|
TOWEL | brand, fabric_type | COLOR/SIZE |
LIGHT_BULB | brand, model_name, light_type, item_shape | COLOR |
LIGHT_BULB | COLOR / SIZE | |
LIGHT_BULB | SIZE | |
INKJET_PRINTER_INK | brand, model_name, page_yield, compatible_devices | COLOR |
INKJET_PRINTER_INK | COLOR/SIZE | |
INKJET_PRINTER_INK | SIZE | |
LASER_PRINTER_TONER | COLOR | |
LASER_PRINTER_TONER | COLOR/SIZE | |
LASER_PRINTER_TONER | SIZE |