# Category Display

An alternative way to show catalog categories — either as a dropdown menu or as a grid of category tiles with drill-down breadcrumb navigation. Use this when **Category Sidebar** doesn't fit the layout (e.g. on mobile-first pages or when categories should be browseable as tiles).

> **Note on naming:** The palette label is **Categories**. The underlying file is `Category2`.

## Available in

* Catalog modules
* Public Page modules

## When to use

* Mobile-first catalog pages where a sidebar would take too much space.
* B2C catalogs where category tiles with images are part of the shopping experience.
* Catalogs with image-rich categories where browsing by visual is a goal.
* As a secondary category navigation in the page header (dropdown style).

For the standard sidebar tree, use **Category Sidebar** instead.

## Settings

| Setting                               | Description                                                                                  |
| ------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Display as Grid**                   | Render as a grid of category tiles (Yes) or as a dropdown menu (No). Default: No (dropdown). |
| **Only Show Categories With Items**   | Hide empty categories. Default: No.                                                          |
| **Show Clear Button**                 | Show a *Clear* button to reset the filter. Default: Yes.                                     |
| **Show Collapsible Header**           | Show a header that the user can collapse. Default: Yes.                                      |
| **Header Title**                      | Header text. Default: *Categories*.                                                          |
| **Show Image** *(Grid mode only)*     | Show category images on each tile. Default: Yes.                                             |
| **Show Title** *(Grid mode only)*     | Show category title on each tile. Default: Yes.                                              |
| **Title Position** *(Grid mode only)* | Title placement: above, below, or overlay on the image. Default: above.                      |
| **Columns** *(Grid mode only)*        | Number of columns in the grid. Default: 5.                                                   |

## What it depends on

Like all category navigation blocks, Category Display reads from the **Catalog Categories** data in the linked catalog. If that data isn't included in the catalog, Category Display renders empty.

| What to verify                                         | Where                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Catalog Categories** toggle is on                    | **Catalogs** → open the catalog → **Settings** → *Catalog Categories* |
| The catalog has been rebuilt after enabling the toggle | **Catalogs** list → **Reprocess** on the catalog row                  |
| The catalog is assigned to this workflow               | Workflow **Settings** tab → **Catalog** field                         |

## How it works

**Dropdown mode** (default): renders as a dropdown menu showing the category hierarchy. Click a category to filter the catalog.

**Grid mode**: renders as a grid of category tiles. Click a tile to drill into that category's children. A breadcrumb trail appears at the top so users can navigate back up the hierarchy.

In both modes, selecting a category writes to `selectedCategory` in the app state and the active **Catalog Display** filters accordingly. Clicking the same category again deselects it.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Grid mode** is great for B2C — images and tiles invite exploration. **Dropdown mode** is better for B2B — compact, fast for power users who know what category they want.
{% endhint %}

## Examples

**B2C tiled categories.** Category Display with Display as Grid = Yes, Show Image = Yes, Title Position = overlay, Columns = 4. Used at the top of a B2C catalog above Catalog Display.

**Compact dropdown for navigation header.** Category Display in dropdown mode, dropped into a Header Nav slot or top of a sidebar.

**Mobile-friendly browse.** Grid mode with Columns = 2, Show Image = Yes, Title Position = below — works well in the Sheet drawer on mobile.

## 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>Category Sidebar</strong></td><td>The standard sidebar tree alternative.</td><td><a href="/pages/iHgOoEc4CBkQG9A3oaPT">/pages/iHgOoEc4CBkQG9A3oaPT</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Category Modal</strong></td><td>For pop-up category browsing on first visit.</td><td><a href="/pages/O3wri7ynmi7yC71d1He9">/pages/O3wri7ynmi7yC71d1He9</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Catalog Display</strong></td><td>The product browse that responds to category selection.</td><td><a href="/pages/dAjRJ2GOz4uRXrOSvCJA">/pages/dAjRJ2GOz4uRXrOSvCJA</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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