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

# Categories

> Create menu categories so products are easier to organize and filter.

Categories help staff organize products and help customers browse the menu.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/platoae/TIGnbzXxmghL4Tv_/images/restaurant/menu/categories-with-sample.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=TIGnbzXxmghL4Tv_&q=85&s=7c4d15a2228c1b012fd4483ae687b8f8" alt="Categories list" width="1280" height="720" data-path="images/restaurant/menu/categories-with-sample.png" />

## Create A Category

Click `New Category`.

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/platoae/TIGnbzXxmghL4Tv_/images/restaurant/menu/category-form.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=TIGnbzXxmghL4Tv_&q=85&s=d3cb6704e8f7942a52cbe6803ba0a6b7" alt="Category form" width="1280" height="720" data-path="images/restaurant/menu/category-form.png" />

Add a name and optional description. You can also upload category images for menu and POS views.

Use simple names such as `Starters`, `Burgers`, `Desserts`, or `Drinks`.

## When To Use Categories

Create categories before adding many products. Products can be filtered and displayed more cleanly when every item has the right category.

If a product belongs to a temporary campaign, create a seasonal category and remove or hide it later.
