I know these Magento 2 product types sound old school for Magento veterans; however, it is a frequently asked question for freshmen. To be honest, I myself experienced difficulties to distinguish all these types when I first got used to Magento.
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Simple product
This is the most basic and used type of product and it’s as its name – simple. The simple product doesn’t contain different options for colors, sizes, or any other selectable variation. Let’s take an example of a single product which is a handbag and there are no other options of size or color for it. A single product has a specific SKU number and its inventory information is checked at the simple product level.
Configurable product
The configurable product actually composes of simple products with options such as size, colors, or any other attribute. These simple products are managed with different SKUs and inventory levels. Also, you can upload images or color swatches for each product. Whenever a customer sees an item, he has options for colors and sizes as well. For instance, a handbag is a configurable product when it’s offered in different sizes from small, medium to large and also comes in red and black. In this case, the simple products include a small one in black, a medium one in red, a large one in red, a small one in black, a medium one in black, and a large one in black.
Grouped product
This type of product is simply a group of different standalone simple products.
These simple products are grouped by season or theme to create a set. Customers can purchase these products separately or altogether. Just imagine that the previous handbag is offered along with a wallet and a bag charm, you can choose to buy all of this set or buy only one item from this. Another example is a set of hair care products combining shampoo, conditioner, and treatment oil.
Bundle product
Different from grouped products, bundle product doesn’t grant customers any choice to choose products; in short, you take it all or leave it alone. Still with the above set of hair care goodies but now you cannot select them individually but all of the products instead with a special price. Bundle product is very popular and used for promotion purpose.
Downloadable product
From the name of this kind, you can know that it is a simple product that can be downloaded such as music, file, or software. Since there is nothing to ship, this product type doesn’t allow shipping options.
Virtual product
Virtual product is not tangible item. But it’s different from a downloadable product in the aspect that it is the service that you offer to customers. Examples of this type can be cleaning services, law or financial consulting services, or insurance.
Above are six builds in product types of Magento 2, I hope this article brings you a better understanding of them. Depending on your business and product characteristics, suitable product types may be utilized for the best result. If you still feel confused about these types of products, don’t hesitate to contact our Magento experts. We have several experience Magento-certified developers and specialists who are ready to answer all your questions and offer the best solutions for your difficulties.
