---
title: Tags vs. custom attributes — which should I use?
description: Here's how to understand the key differences between tags and custom attributes to choose the right tool for organizing your products.
---

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# Tags vs. custom attributes — which should I use?

## Here's how to understand the key differences between tags and custom attributes to choose the right tool for organizing your products.

DigitBridge offers two powerful tools for organizing and classifying your product data: **tags** and **custom attributes**. While they may seem similar, they serve very different purposes depending on your use case.

Here’s a breakdown of how to decide which one is right for you:

---

### **Tags**

Tags are flexible, non-structured labels that you can apply to products for temporary, campaign-based, or high-level grouping.

**Use tags when:**

- You want to quickly group products for a short-term initiative (e.g., *Fall 2025 Launch*, *Clearance*, *Sample Pack*)
- You need to mark items for internal reference (e.g., *Needs Review*, *Missing Photos*)
- You want lightweight, optional categorization that doesn’t require field mapping or values
- You want to allow broader, overlapping categories without enforcing data structure

Tags can be created freely in ERP under **System Code Entry \> Tags**, then applied to items via the **Product Management** screen. [How do I create product tags in ERP?](https://support.digitbridge.com/digitbridgeclientknowledgebase/how-do-i-create-product-tags-in-erp?hsLang=en) [How do I add tags to items in ERP?](https://support.digitbridge.com/digitbridgeclientknowledgebase/how-do-i-add-tags-to-items-in-erp?hsLang=en)

**Pros:**  
✔ Easy to create and apply  
✔ Great for bulk filtering and short-term organization  
✔ No rigid structure or required values

**Cons:**  
✖ Not reportable as structured data fields  
✖ No field validation  
✖ Cannot be used in integrations

---

### **Custom attributes**

Custom attributes are structured, field-based values that are permanently tied to your product records. Each attribute is defined with a name and value set (e.g., *Fabric Type = Organic Cotton*, *Launch Season = SS24*).

**Use custom attributes when:**

- You need structured data for analytics, reporting, or downstream integrations
- You want to enforce consistency in product classification
- You plan to use the data in workflows (e.g., pricing rules, vendor exports, or customer portal filters)
- You’re managing long-term data (e.g., *Product Line*, *Core vs Seasonal*, *Compliance Category*)

Attributes are created under **Admin Tools \> Custom Attributes**, and can then be assigned to products on the **Product Management** screen. [How can I create custom attributes?](https://support.digitbridge.com/digitbridgeclientknowledgebase/how-can-i-create-custom-attributes?hsLang=en) [How do I use custom attributes in DigitBridge?](https://support.digitbridge.com/digitbridgeclientknowledgebase/how-do-i-use-custom-attributes-in-digitbridge?hsLang=en)

**Pros:**  
✔ Structured and reportable  
✔ Supports advanced logic and integrations  
✔ Great for long-term metadata

**Cons:**  
✖ More setup time required  
✖ Less flexible — better suited for permanent or semi-permanent data

---

### **Quick comparison:**

| Feature | Tags | Custom Attributes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Structure | Freeform | Structured (field + value) |
| Use case | Short-term grouping | Permanent product metadata |
| Filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting / analytics | No | Yes |
| Use in logic/formulas | No | Yes |
| Set up in | ERP \> System Code Entry \> Tags | Admin Tools \> Custom Attributes |
| Assigned via | Product Management (Edit) | Product Management (Edit) |

---

### **Still not sure which to use?**

Ask yourself:

- *Do I need this data for reporting, logic, or integrations?* → **Use a custom attribute**
- *Do I just need a quick way to group items for a short-term filter or campaign?* → **Use a tag**

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