Managing catalog attributes effectively is crucial for a robust e-commerce search and filtering experience. On the Attributes page of the dashboard, you have control over the attributes that are indexed and utilized by our search and browse engine. Here we’ll guide you through each attribute type and how to optimize them for your product listings.
Attributes for Product Options, Shopify’s Standard Product Taxonomy Metafields, and Product Metrics are automatically created during catalog syncs. Please contact support if you need assistance managing complex attributes.

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Foundational Architecture

Attributes form the foundation layer of the Layers platform, enabling all higher-level functionality through their core properties:

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Attribute Types

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Catalog Attributes

The code corresponds to your product schema using Dot Notation, which allows for the targeting of attributes or nested attributes within your data structure. Example of Dot Notation for a product attribute: 
{
  "metafields": {
    "custom": {
      "material": "Cotton"
    }
  }
}
In this case, the attribute code would be metafields.custom.material.

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Calculated Attributes

/images/attributes-dashboard-calculated.png Calculated Attributes allow you to write formulas using JSONLogic for creating attributes with dynamic values calculated on the fly. A calculated attribute has access to the entire Product object from Shopify prior to indexing and transformation.

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Metric Attributes

Layers tracks and calculates multiple product-level metrics that are automatically exposed as attributes. You can use these attributes in Sort Orders and Merchandising Rules. Metrics Captured
  • Sales (Dollars & Units) over 7, 14, and 30 days.
  • Product Views over 7, 14, and 30 days.
  • Product Clicks over 7, 14, and 30 days.
  • Product Add to Cart over 7, 14, and 30 days.
You can configure a custom rollup attribute under Settings > Metrics Rollup, this allows you to calculate these metrics using a Custom Style Code or other attribute.
Metric Attributes are not exposed via any Storefront API or available to Calculated Attributes. If included in Search then the metric value may be indirectly exposed.

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Attribute Options

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Searchable Attributes

By marking an attribute as Searchable, your products can be found in search results if the search query matches the attribute’s value. This is ideal for text-based attributes such as product names, descriptions, or categories. Attributes that are marked as Searchable and contain an Image URL will automatically be used for Image Search.

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Partial Matching

The “Allow Partial Matching” option determines whether a product can match search queries that only partially match the attribute’s value. For instance, if you want customers to find a product by typing just a part of the SKU or Style Code, enable this option. If exact matches are preferred, such as for specific codes, you can disable this option.

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Filterable Attributes

Setting an attribute as Filterable enables it to be used as a facet on category or search result pages. This allows customers to refine their searches based on specific product characteristics like size, color, or brand. Learn more about Faceting.

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Sortable Attributes

Sortable attributes can be used to create custom Sort Orders for your product catalog. This is useful for allowing customers to sort products according to different criteria, such as price, popularity, or relevance.

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Best Practices

  • Use clear, descriptive nicknames for attributes to easily manage and identify them on the dashboard.
  • When setting up searchable attributes, consider the search behavior of your customers and which attributes are most relevant to their queries.
  • For filterable attributes, think about the facets that are most useful for customers when browsing your product range.
  • Regularly review and update your attributes to keep up with changes in your product catalog and customer search behavior.
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your product attributes are optimized for search and filtering, creating a better shopping experience for your customers.