Product Type Definitions API v2020-09-01 Use Case Guide

API Version: 2020-09-01

What is the Product Type Definitions API?

Using the Selling Partner API for Product Type Definitions (Product Type Definitions API), you can search and retrieve Amazon Product Type Definitions. Amazon Product Type Definitions describe the attribute and data requirements for items in the Amazon catalog using JSON Schema.

For more details on the JSON Schema format provided by the Product Type Definitions API, refer to the accompanying Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema (v1) documentation.

Refer to the Product Type Definitions API v2020-09-01 Reference for details about API operations and associated data types and schemas.

Key features

• JSON Schemas: The Product Type Definitions API provides JSON Schemas that describe the seller-agnostic requirements for a given Amazon product type. This includes the data format, attribute constraints (such as required, length, and maximum), and conditionally applied attribute constraints (such as if batteries are included and what type of battery).

• Compatible with Open-Source Libraries: The JSON Schemas provided can be used with widely available open-source and commercial libraries, applications, and services to understand data requirements, create data mappings, generate user interfaces, and validate listings data before submission to Amazon.

• Localized presentation details: The JSON Schemas provided include display labels and descriptions for attributes in any supported locale for any marketplace.

• Product Type Recommendations: The Product Type Definitions API provides recommendations to help you pick the most applicable product type. These recommendations are based on Product Titles in any supported locale for any marketplace, if available.

To learn more about the terms that are used on this page, refer to Terminology.

Tutorial: Search available Product Type Definitions

Use this tutorial to search and identify Amazon product types available in the Product Type Definitions API for a given Amazon marketplace and type of selling partner account.

Prerequisites

To complete this tutorial, you need:

• Authorization from the selling partner for whom you are making calls. Refer to Authorizing Selling Partner API applications for more information.

• Approval for the Product Listing role in your developer profile.

• The Product Listing role selected in the App registration page for your application.

Search Product Type Definitions

Call the searchDefinitionsProductTypes operation to search product types available in the Product Type Definitions API.

Tutorial: Get Product Type Definition recommendations

Use this tutorial to get Amazon product type recommendations from the Product Type Definitions API for a given Amazon marketplace, type of selling partner account, and item name.

Prerequisites

To complete this tutorial, you need:

• Authorization from the selling partner for whom you are making calls. Refer to Authorizing Selling Partner API applications for more information.

• Approval for the Product Listing role in your developer profile.

• The Product Listing role selected in the App registration page for your application.

Search Product Type Definitions

Call the searchDefinitionsProductTypes operation to get product type recommendations based on the itemName from the Product Type Definitions API.

Tutorial: Retrieve a Product Type Definition

Use this tutorial to return Amazon Product Type Definitions and related schemas from the Product Type Definitions API for a given selling partner, Amazon product type, and Amazon marketplace.

Prerequisites

To complete this tutorial, you need:

• Authorization from the Selling Partner for whom you are making calls. Refer to Authorizing Selling Partner API applications for more information.

• Approval for the Product Listing role in your developer profile.

• The Product Listing role selected in the App registration page for your application.

Retrieve the Product Type Definition

Call the getDefinitionsProductType operation to retrieve an Amazon Product Type Definition from the Product Type Definitions API.

Retrieve the schema documents

In the previous step, the retrieved Amazon Product Type Definition includes details about the Amazon product type and links to retrieve the meta schema and product type schema documents. The links provided are valid for seven days.

Schema documents can be retrieved programmatically with a standard HTTP client or manually with a web browser.

❗️

Meta scheme names cannot be resolved via the web

The Amazon Product Type Definition JSON Schema document references the meta schema by name. Some JSON Schema libraries attempt to resolve meta schema names online via the web, which the Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema (v1) does not support. These libraries should be configured to use a downloaded copy of the meta schema instead. Refer to the accompanying Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema (v1) documentation for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

This documentation covers common questions and details for the Product Type Definitions API. For questions or concerns not covered by this documentation, contact Selling Partner API support or create an issue on the GitHub repository.

How fresh are Amazon Product Type Definitions?

Unless specifying a previous productTypeVersion, the Amazon Product Type Definitions always describe the latest up-to-date Amazon catalog requirements.

Are all Amazon product types available with the Product Type Definitions API?

No. Amazon is continually expanding support for new and existing Amazon product types in the Product Type Definitions API. For the up-to-date list of available Amazon product types, use the Product Type Definitions API.

What version of JSON Schema is used?

Amazon Product Type Definition JSON Schemas extend JSON Schema 2019-09. Refer to the accompanying Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema (v1) documentation for more details.

How will future versions of JSON Schema be Leveraged?

As future versions of JSON Schema are adopted by the Product Type Definitions API, they will be accompanied by a new version release of the Product Type Definitions API and Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema.

Future versions of JSON Schema will not be adopted by existing versions of the Product Type Definitions API or Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema.

Do Product Type Definition JSON Schemas include custom vocabulary?

Most Amazon catalog requirements are described utilizing standard JSON Schema 2019-09 vocabulary. However, there are a few requirements that necessitate extending JSON Schema with custom vocabulary. Refer to the accompanying Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema (v1) documentation for more details.

Am I required to implement validation for custom vocabulary?

No. The Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema (v1) uses custom vocabulary to fully describe Amazon catalog requirements. Validating data with custom data enables you to prevent most listings-related issues from occurring before submitting to Amazon. However, it is up-to-you to implement such validation. Without implementing this validation, submitting data to Amazon can produce listings-related issues after submission to Amazon.

Do I need custom code to use JSON Schemas?

Yes. The amount of custom code depends upon your application. Example scenarios:

• Using Open-Source Library with Validation of Custom Vocabulary: Leveraging an open-source library to handle most JSON Schema validation means custom code is necessary to retrieve schemas from the Product Type Definitions API, to implement validation of custom vocabulary, and to integrate with the open-source library.

• Using Open-Source Library without Validation of Custom Vocabulary: Leveraging an open-source library to handle most JSON Schema validation means custom code is necessary to retrieve schemas from the Product Type Definitions API and to integrate with the open-source library.

What Open-Source Libraries are Available?

Dozens of open-source libraries and implementations are available to validate data, render user interfaces, and generate code. Refer to JSON Schema Tooling for a full list.

Amazon does not directly support or endorse any specific open-source or commercial libraries and implementations. Examples provided in this documentation are for reference only.

What examples are available for validating data with product type schemas?

The accompanying Amazon Product Type Definition Meta-Schema (v1) documentation includes example integrations with open-source libraries to validate data with custom vocabulary in .NET (C#), Java, and JavaScript (Node.js).

How do I report issues with Amazon Product Type Definitions?

For issues specific to the Product Type Definitions API or the content of Amazon Product Type Definition JSON Schemas, contact Selling Partner API support.