---
title: "GET /catalog/categories"
method: GET
path: "/catalog/categories"
tags: ["Catalog"]
---

# GET /catalog/categories

`GET /catalog/categories`

Returns a paginated categories collection from the BigCommerce Catalog.

## Query parameters

- `name` string
- `parent_id` integer
- `page_title` string
- `keyword` string
- `is_visible` integer
- `page` integer
- `limit` integer
- `include_fields` string
- `exclude_fields` string

## Response `200`

An array of category objects and metadata.

- CategoryCollectionResponse — Response payload for the BigCommerce API.
  - `data` Category[]
    - `parent_id` integer — The unique numeric ID of the category's parent. This field controls where the category sits in the tree of categories that organize the catalog.
    - `name` string — The name displayed for the category. Name is unique with respect to the category's siblings.
    - `description` string — The product description, which can include HTML formatting.
    - `views` integer — Number of views the category has on the storefront.
    - `sort_order` integer — Priority this category will be given when included in the menu and category pages. The lower the number, the closer to the top of the results the category will be.
    - `page_title` string — Custom title for the category page. If not defined, the category name will be used as the meta title.
    - `search_keywords` string — A comma-separated list of keywords that can be used to locate the category when searching the store.
    - `meta_keywords` string[] — Custom meta keywords for the category page. If not defined, the store's default keywords will be used. Must post as an array like: ["awesome","sauce"].
    - `meta_description` string — Custom meta description for the category page. If not defined, the store's default meta description will be used.
    - `layout_file` string — The layout template file used to render this category.
    - `is_visible` boolean — Flag to determine whether the product should be displayed to customers browsing the store. If `true`, the category will be displayed. If `false`, the category will be hidden from view.
    - `default_product_sort` 'use_store_settings' | 'featured' | 'newest' | 'best_selling' | 'alpha_asc' | 'alpha_desc' | 'avg_customer_review' | 'price_asc' | 'price_desc' — Determines how the products are sorted on category page load.
    - `image_url` string — Image URL used for this category on the storefront. Images can be uploaded via form file post to `/categories/{categoryId}/image`, or by providing a publicly accessible URL in this field.
    - `custom_url` CustomUrlCategory — The custom URL for the category on the storefront.
      - `url` string — Category URL on the storefront.
      - `is_customized` boolean — Returns `true` if the URL has been changed from its default state (the auto-assigned URL that BigCommerce provides).
    - `id` integer — The unique numeric ID of the category; increments sequentially.
  - `meta` CollectionMeta — Data about the response, including pagination and collection totals.
    - `pagination` Pagination — Data about the response, including pagination and collection totals.
      - `total` integer — Total number of items in the result set.
      - `count` integer — Total number of items in the collection response.
      - `per_page` integer — The amount of items returned in the collection per page, controlled by the limit parameter.
      - `current_page` integer — The page you are currently on within the collection.
      - `total_pages` integer — The total number of pages in the collection.
      - `links` object — Pagination links for the previous and next parts of the whole collection.
        - `previous` string — Link to the previous page returned in the response.
        - `current` string — Link to the current page returned in the response.
        - `next` string — Link to the next page returned in the response.

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/bigcommerce/apis/bigcommerce-api.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/bigcommerce/apis/bigcommerce-api/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/bigcommerce/bigcommerce-api/revisions/90efb67b99f3/schema)