# Evolution of Product Classification at Shopify: From Categories to Comprehensive Product Understanding

DevFeed: [Evolution of Product Classification at Shopify: From Categories to Comprehensive Product Understanding](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/evolution-of-product-classification-at-shopify-from-categories-to-comprehensive-product-understanding-1384.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://shopify.engineering/evolution-product-classification>)

Author: Kshetrajna Raghavan

Published: 2025-05-08T04:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Shopify Engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/shopify-engineering.md>), [Shopify Engineering - Shopify Engineering](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/shopify-engineering-shopify-engineering.md>)

Topics: [Shopify](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/shopify.md>), [Artificial Intelligence](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai.md>), [AI Development](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ai-development.md>), [Machine learning](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/machine-learning.md>), [data](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data.md>)

Tags: [ai](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ai.md>), [business](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/business.md>), [framework](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/framework.md>), [machine-learning](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/machine-learning.md>), [models](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/models.md>), [predictions](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/predictions.md>), [product](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/product.md>), [search](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/search.md>), [shopify](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/shopify.md>)

## AI overview

Shopify describes the evolution of its product classification system from a 2018 logistic-regression model using TF-IDF to a multimodal system and, by 2023, a product-understanding system built on Vision Language Models and the Shopify Product Taxonomy. The system classifies products, extracts category-specific attributes and metadata, and supports search, discovery, recommendations, safety, and trust.

## Source excerpt

Shopify's product classification system has evolved from basic categorization to an AI-driven framework using Vision Language Models and the Shopify Product Taxonomy. It accurately classifies products, extracts attributes, and processes over 30 million predictions daily, improving search, discovery, trust, and efficiency for merchants and buyers.