> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ontimebookings.com.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Categories

> Group services so customers can find them.

Categories group your services so customers can browse them — for example, "Cuts", "Colour", and "Treatments". You can also create sub-categories one level deep, such as "Colour → Highlights".

<Note>
  In the admin portal, categories live under **Settings → Catalogue → Categories**.
</Note>

## Add a category

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Categories">
    Go to **Settings → Catalogue → Categories**, then add a category. To create a sub-category, add it under an existing one.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in the details">
    Complete the fields below.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save">
    Save the category.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Category fields

| Field                                                   | What it's for                                                                           | Required |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- |
| **Category name**                                       | The name customers see, such as "Colour".                                               | Yes      |
| **Slug**                                                | The part of the web address for this category. Lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens. | Yes      |
| **Description**                                         | A short description shown to customers.                                                 | No       |
| **Colour**                                              | A colour used as an accent for this category.                                           | No       |
| **Internal notes**                                      | Notes only your team can see.                                                           | No       |
| **Meta title**, **meta description**, **meta keywords** | Text that helps search engines show this category.                                      | No       |

## Link services to categories

You add a service to a category from the **service**, not the category. On a service, tick the categories it belongs to. See [Create a service](/set-up/services/create-a-service).

<Note>
  Deleting a category doesn't delete its services. They stay, but are no longer in that category.
</Note>