How it works
A parent product holds shared content, such as the title, description and brand. Each variant combines option values, for example Large and Blue, and carries what differs: SKU, GTIN, price, weight, images and inventory. Platforms limit how many options and variants a product may have, and some, like marketplaces, model parent-child relationships differently from storefronts.
Example
A T-shirt in three colors and four sizes has twelve variants. Each has its own SKU and stock level, while the description and size chart live on the parent.
In integrations
Variants are first-class on the SKU object in the Unify Catalog API, and bundles list their components with quantities. That keeps option structures consistent when the same product is published to a PIM, several storefronts and a marketplace. Variant structures break integrations in subtle ways: option limits, renamed options and variant-level images differ by platform. Map them explicitly instead of assuming one platform's shape.