Catalog object inside the variations array inside the item_data attribute

Questions
1

I have executed the Catalog Search API and I wanted to know the difference between the main Catalog Object and the Catalog Object inside the variations array inside the item_data attribute of the said catalog object.

For example in the below example JSON:

{
    "type": "ITEM",
    "id": "MAIN_CATALOG_OBJECT_ID",
    ...
    "item_data": {
        ...,
        "variations": [
            {
                "type": "ITEM_VARIATION",
                "id": "ITEM_DATA_VARIATION_CATALOG_OBJECT_ID",
                "updated_at": "2020-11-16T02:35:32.629Z",
                "version": 1605494132629,
                "is_deleted": false,
                "present_at_all_locations": false,
                "present_at_location_ids": [
                    ...
                ],
                "item_variation_data": {
                    ...
                }
            }
        ],
        ...
    }
}

What is the difference between the Catalog Object represented by the MAIN_CATALOG_OBJECT_ID and the ITEM_DATA_VARIATION_CATALOG_OBJECT_ID?
Are there attributes exclusive to the ITEM_DATA_VARIATION_CATALOG_OBJECT_ID based Catalog Object? Or will this catalog object with id ITEM_DATA_VARIATION_CATALOG_OBJECT_ID not be available directly via the Catalog APIs like list and search?

Please do let us know. Thanks

2

The MAIN_CATALOG_OBJECT_ID is an ITEM, which does not have a price or inventory. The latter is an ITEM_VARIATION, which all items must have if you plan on selling the item. Without a variation, an item cannot be sold, nor will it show up in the seller dashboard. Take a look at our Design a Catalog documentation for more information about how these two are different…

3

Ok. Makes sense. These Catalog Objects with the id ITEM_DATA_VARIATION_CATALOG_OBJECT_ID will they be available directly as well via the Catalog List/Search API? Or will they only be available via the item data variations list? Please do let me know. Many thanks and happy holidays.

4

Yes, you do have the ability to Search and Retrieve, and List on variations. :slightly_smiling_face: