# Catalog Layout

A purpose-built layout for catalog pages. Pick a sidebar arrangement (left, right, both sides, or detailed) and the block exposes slots for the sidebars and the main catalog area.

The block is responsive — desktop shows true sidebars; mobile collapses them into slide-out drawers (Sheets) the user opens via a Filters button.

## Available in

* Catalog modules
* Public Page modules

## When to use

* Almost every catalog page should use Catalog Layout — it provides the standard sidebar/canvas pattern with mobile fallbacks already wired up.
* Pick the layout type based on your catalog's complexity:
  * **Left** — single sidebar (most common, default).
  * **Right** — sidebar on the right (less common).
  * **Left-Right** — two sidebars (e.g. categories left, filters right).
  * **Detailed** — extended layout for catalogs with many filtering surfaces.

For minimal catalog pages without sidebars, you can drop Catalog Display directly into a Row + Column without Catalog Layout.

## Settings

| Setting          | Description                                                            |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Layout Type**  | Sidebar arrangement: Left, Right, Left-Right, Detailed. Default: Left. |
| **Instructions** | Help text shown in the editor explaining the slot setup.               |
| **Top Slot**     | Optional slot above the main area — for hero, breadcrumbs, search bar. |
| **Left Slot**    | Sidebar content for left-side layouts.                                 |
| **Right Slot**   | Sidebar content for right-side layouts.                                |
| **Center Slot**  | Used by Detailed layout for centred secondary content.                 |
| **Main Slot**    | The main catalog area — Catalog Display drops here by default.         |

## How this fits in the catalog page

Catalog Layout is the container — everything else sits inside it. The typical arrangement:

```
Catalog Layout
├── Left Slot   → Category Sidebar (needs Catalog Categories on the catalog)
│                  Dynamic Filters
│                  Catalog View Select
└── Main Slot   → Catalog Display (the product grid)
```

The blocks inside the slots **communicate through shared app state**:

* **Category Sidebar** writes the selected category → **Catalog Display** reads it and filters items.
* **Dynamic Filters** write active filter values → **Catalog Display** reads them and re-fetches items.
* **Catalog View Select** writes the view mode → **Catalog Display** reads it and switches layouts.

None of this wiring requires extra configuration — it happens automatically when the blocks are on the same page.

## How it works

* Desktop: sidebars render at fixed widths alongside the main canvas.
* Mobile: sidebars collapse into Sheet drawers, accessed via a *Filters* button with a filter icon. This happens automatically — no separate mobile configuration needed.
* Slot routing depends on Layout Type — only the slots relevant to the chosen layout receive content.
* The Main Slot pre-populates with a Catalog Display block when the layout is dropped onto a fresh page.

{% hint style="info" %}
Drop **Category Sidebar** and **Dynamic Filters** into the appropriate sidebar slot for the standard browse experience. Add a **Catalog View Select** in the top of the sidebar to let users switch between list / grid / gallery / matrix.
{% endhint %}

## Examples

**Standard B2B catalog.** Catalog Layout with Layout Type = *Left*. Left Slot has Category Sidebar + Dynamic Filters. Main Slot has Catalog Display in list view.

**B2C with right-rail filters.** Layout Type = *Right*. Right Slot has Dynamic Filters. Main Slot has Catalog Display in grid view. Top Slot has a Hero banner.

**Two-sidebar power-user view.** Layout Type = *Left-Right*. Left Slot has Category Sidebar. Right Slot has Dynamic Filters. Main Slot has Catalog Display in matrix view for quick entry.

## Related

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Catalog Display</strong></td><td>The primary product-browse block that lives in the Main Slot.</td><td><a href="/pages/dAjRJ2GOz4uRXrOSvCJA">/pages/dAjRJ2GOz4uRXrOSvCJA</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Category Sidebar</strong></td><td>The category tree for sidebar navigation.</td><td><a href="/pages/iHgOoEc4CBkQG9A3oaPT">/pages/iHgOoEc4CBkQG9A3oaPT</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Dynamic Filters</strong></td><td>Attribute filters typically placed in the sidebar.</td><td><a href="/pages/WmtioBx6PPBCaAd164X8">/pages/WmtioBx6PPBCaAd164X8</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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