---
title: Index and manage catalog data
slug: '3448'
canonical_url: https://docs.coveo.com/en/3448/
collection: coveo-for-commerce
source_format: adoc
---
# Index and manage catalog data
A [catalog entity](https://docs.coveo.com/en/3143/) is a structure that represents the relationships between [items](https://docs.coveo.com/en/pa8f6515/) in a [source](https://docs.coveo.com/en/246/).
It's composed of a [source](https://docs.coveo.com/en/246/) containing products, [variants](https://docs.coveo.com/en/mc7f0326/), and [availabilities](https://docs.coveo.com/en/mc7e9096/) that are unique, and a [catalog configuration](https://docs.coveo.com/en/l5if0520/).

> **Note**
>
> A catalog entity can also contain an extra source dedicated for availabilities if they're not contained in the product source.

The articles in this section explore how to integrate your [catalog data](https://docs.coveo.com/en/obcf0333/) into the [Coveo Platform](https://docs.coveo.com/en/186/)'s infrastructure.
This integration establishes the relationships between your items, their [variants](https://docs.coveo.com/en/mc7f0326/), and their availabilities.

Coveo stores your [catalog data](https://docs.coveo.com/en/obcf0333/) so that you can use it in search and [Coveo Machine Learning](https://docs.coveo.com/en/188/).
You still manage it in your content management system (CMS) of choice.

> **Tip**
>
> The [resource snapshots](https://docs.coveo.com/en/3239/) feature lets you copy configurations from one Coveo for Commerce [organization](https://docs.coveo.com/en/185/) to another, such as when you migrate from a sandbox to a production organization.
> It only copies the source configuration, not the source content.
> 
> Use this feature to reuse your [catalog entities](https://docs.coveo.com/en/3143/) and their [catalog configurations](https://docs.coveo.com/en/l5if0520/), your [Catalog sources](https://docs.coveo.com/en/l5if0244/), and your [fields](https://docs.coveo.com/en/200/) and field [mappings](https://docs.coveo.com/en/217/).

## Index content

Coveo offers tools to index [catalog data](https://docs.coveo.com/en/obcf0333/), as well as a wide array of website content, all stored in a secured unified [index](https://docs.coveo.com/en/204/).

To index your items, Coveo uses information sourced from your product information management (PIM) system, digital asset management (DAM) system, and other storage locations.
It's your responsibility to consolidate and structure this information in a format that can be processed by Coveo.
Every item that needs to be indexed should include the necessary metadata as per Coveo's requirements in one or more JSON files.

In this section, you'll find articles with instructions for integrating your [catalog data](https://docs.coveo.com/en/obcf0333/) into your index and configuring your catalog entity:

* [Create a Catalog source](https://docs.coveo.com/en/n8of0593/)

* [Leverage commerce-related fields](https://docs.coveo.com/en/n73f0502/)

* [Map commerce-related fields with relevant metadata](https://docs.coveo.com/en/n8of7021/)

* [Leverage the different catalog object types](https://docs.coveo.com/en/n8of5561/)

* [Integrate your catalog data into your source](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p48b0322/)

* [Inspect indexed content](https://docs.coveo.com/en/n8ge0096/)

* [Commerce catalog entity](https://docs.coveo.com/en/3139/)

* [Perform updates on your indexed catalog data](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p48b0322/)

> **Notes**
>
> * For an SAP Commerce API integration, see [Index SAP Commerce Cloud](https://docs.coveo.com/en/ladf0002/).
> 
> * For a Salesforce Commerce Cloud integration, see [Index a Salesforce Commerce Cloud instance](https://docs.coveo.com/en/sal3s118/).

### Alternatives to the Catalog source

We strongly advise all Coveo for Commerce implementations to use the Catalog source to store [catalog data](https://docs.coveo.com/en/obcf0333/), as well as the Stream API to perform push and update operations.
This source is specifically designed to handle the complexity of commerce data and handle Coveo's AI personalization features.

If your use case requires the usage of one of the following sources, contact your Coveo representative to discuss your options:

* [Generic REST API](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1896/)

* [GraphQL](https://docs.coveo.com/en/n6gh2329/)

* [Database](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1885/)

* [Web](https://docs.coveo.com/en/malf0160/)

* [Sitemap](https://docs.coveo.com/en/1967/)