The product identifier is the key that correlates all product data from different types.
All four data types specify the product key by using the element 'id'.
Model Product And Variations
The model product (see The Product) must always have its own unique key, regardless of whether it has any variations or not.
If the product has any variations, each variation is obligated to have its own unique product key.
A variation product cannot be redefined to later map to a different model product.
For the product data types availability, media and price, data associated with the model product’s key is discarded if the product has variations.
The Product Data Type
The product data type has encapsulated the '<id>'-element inside an '<identity>'-element.
<identity> <id>main_product_key</id> <gtin>global_trade_item_number</gtin> <mpn>manufacturer_part_number</mpn> <sku>stock_keeping_unit</sku> </identity>
Mandatory elements are id and either GTIN or MPN. Meaning that either GTIN or MPN must be present on all of your products.
Case Insensitive
Note that product id:s are not case sensitive! For example, the following id:s are all considered equal:
Product_A product_a PRODUCT_A pRoDuCt_A
Valid Identity Characters
A valid product key is 1–40 characters long, and only accepts certain characters.
The following characters are allowed in an identity token:
- a-z
- A-Z
- åäö
- ÅÄÖ
- 0-9
- / (slash)
- - (hyphen)
- _ (underscore)
- . (dot)
- (whitespace)
If specified, the element 'gtin' must be exactly either 8, 12, 13 or 14 digits long. For reference, see gtin.info.
The restrictions are more lenient for the elements 'mpn' and 'sku'. If specified, 1–50 characters of any kind is permitted.