---
title: "Parent Categories"
description: "Show all of your products in a simple, styled, and elegant parent-category layout that keeps browsing simple for your customers."
canonical: https://www.ordering.co/features/parent-categories-functionality/
---

Menu organization

# Show all of your products in a simple, styled, and elegant layout.

Keep it simple for your customers. Expand your product catalog without overwhelming the menu they see.

[Talk to Ordering.co ](https://www.ordering.co/contact/)[Explore the platform](https://www.ordering.co/platform/)

Parent categories apply within the ordering channels and configuration selected for your setup.

![Storefront menu organized into parent categories](https://www.ordering.co/media/features/d12a69fa490a937f4b4691855c4c11990cfd7f7c8a36cd806d464f03eb3638b3.png)

Menu organization

## Group items the way your menu actually works.

Parent categories give a large menu a top-level structure; subcategories break each one down further, so customers reach the item they want in fewer taps.

Where you use it: Dashboard

![Dashboard product list for an Italian restaurant with parent categories such as Appetizers, Fresh Breads, Traditional Pastas, and Pizzas, each with an on/off toggle, beside the Appetizers product list showing price, product cost, and tax.](https://www.ordering.co/media/blog/a45d56b865ab8889ab1d93f98be57e94d6f76166f0eda55d1046a837ae53f4d4.jpg)

### Parent categories

- A category for each section of the menu

  Group products into parent categories, each with its own name, image, and description.

- Layout you choose

  Pick the layout and design for how categories display, matching your brand.

- Turn a category on or off

  Toggle a whole category without deleting it or the products inside it.

![Dashboard menu builder with the Pizzas category expanded to show its products, including Hawaiian, Mexican, Meat Lovers, and Cheese Lovers, each with its own checkbox.](https://www.ordering.co/media/blog/597e4a551461a12d37f25e02bd98aa880550d0222f00ec5f3d54eb65f4b03bd0.jpg)

### Subcategories

- A subcategory inside a category

  Break a category into subcategories, for example appetizers, entrées, and desserts, or cuisines like Italian, Mexican, and Chinese.

- Images and descriptions at every level

  Add an image and description to each category and subcategory, so customers know what to expect before they open it.

### Why it matters

- **Faster to the right item**Customers move through a large or complex menu without scrolling past everything else.
- **Deals get seen**Use categories and subcategories to surface special deals, new menu items, or complementary products.

One clear structure

## A menu your customers understand at first sight.

Expand your product catalog quickly; adding more products is easy, and it helps you increase sales and add more value to your business.

Make a menu your customers will understand at first sight.

![Storefront front end showing products grouped under parent categories](https://www.ordering.co/media/features/58ca1bf1c90383df5106f35e936a0d639d50637c582a65b742fc2a754dafeb0b.png)

Instant control

## The simplest configuration.

To enable or disable any new parent or normal category, you only need to click on the checkbox; the changes in your menu are sent instantly to all your Ordering products, meaning everything is up to date always.

- Toggle any parent or normal category on or off with one checkbox.
- Changes sync instantly across all your Ordering products.

![Back-end screen toggling parent categories on and off](https://www.ordering.co/media/features/20709ed4b956b49593fc088826d32446f0535692746f2f6bf6df4c6a9cbccbb6.png)

## See parent categories on your own menu.

Confirm how this fits your current catalog and configuration with the Ordering.co team.

Product guide: [Create a product category](https://docs.ordering.co/docs/products/dashboard/stores/products-overview/create-category/)

[Talk to Ordering.co](https://www.ordering.co/contact/)[See pricing](https://www.ordering.co/pricing/)