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

# Nested categories

> Simple menu sync with one parent category and two subcategories.

This example shows the smallest useful **category tree**: a root section that contains two child categories, each listing one product. There are no modifier groups — only navigation structure.

Use it when you want browse sections like **Food → Burgers / Sides** without complicating the payload.

## What this example includes

| Entity          | Count | Purpose                                           |
| --------------- | ----- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| Products        | 2     | One burger and one side                           |
| Categories      | 3     | One root category and two nested subcategories    |
| Modifier groups | 0     | None — structure only                             |
| Menus           | 1     | All-day delivery menu linked to the root category |

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart TB
    MENU["all-day-delivery"]
    MENU --> FOOD["food"]
    FOOD --> BURGERS["burgers"]
    FOOD --> SIDES["sides"]
    BURGERS --> BURGER["classic-burger"]
    SIDES --> FRIES["fries"]
```

## Request

Call [Upsert menus](/docs/integrations-api/menus/put) with `style: DEFAULT`. Nest subcategories by adding entries with `"type": "CATEGORY"` in the parent category's `items` array. List products only on the **leaf** categories.

```bash theme={null}
curl --request PUT \
  --url 'https://firespark.cloud/api/integrations/v1/menus?fulfillment_id=delivery&store_id=downtown&channel_id=app&brand_id=0001' \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer ACCESS_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d @nested-categories.json
```

```json nested-categories.json theme={null}
{
  "style": "DEFAULT",
  "products": [
    {
      "id": "classic-burger",
      "name": { "en_us": "Classic burger" },
      "description": { "en_us": "Angus beef patty with lettuce and tomato." },
      "image_url": "https://cdn.example.com/classic-burger.jpg",
      "bundled_items": [],
      "pricing": {
        "minimum_quantity": 1,
        "maximum_quantity": 10,
        "is_tax_inclusive": true,
        "tax_rate": 0.15,
        "price": 12.99,
        "anchor_price": 14.99,
        "anchor_price_percentage": 0.13,
        "modifier_group_ids": [],
        "modifiers": []
      },
      "availability": {
        "status": "AVAILABLE",
        "schedules": null,
        "out_of_stock_until": null
      },
      "metadata": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "fries",
      "name": { "en_us": "Seasoned fries" },
      "description": { "en_us": "Crispy fries with house seasoning." },
      "image_url": "https://cdn.example.com/fries.jpg",
      "bundled_items": [],
      "pricing": {
        "minimum_quantity": 1,
        "maximum_quantity": 10,
        "is_tax_inclusive": true,
        "tax_rate": 0.15,
        "price": 4.99,
        "anchor_price": 4.99,
        "anchor_price_percentage": 0,
        "modifier_group_ids": [],
        "modifiers": []
      },
      "availability": {
        "status": "AVAILABLE",
        "schedules": null,
        "out_of_stock_until": null
      },
      "metadata": {}
    }
  ],
  "categories": [
    {
      "id": "food",
      "name": { "en_us": "Food" },
      "description": { "en_us": "Browse by section" },
      "items": [
        { "type": "CATEGORY", "id": "burgers" },
        { "type": "CATEGORY", "id": "sides" }
      ],
      "availability": {
        "status": "ACTIVE",
        "schedules": null,
        "out_of_stock_until": null
      },
      "metadata": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "burgers",
      "name": { "en_us": "Burgers" },
      "description": { "en_us": "Beef and chicken burgers" },
      "items": [{ "type": "PRODUCT", "id": "classic-burger" }],
      "availability": {
        "status": "ACTIVE",
        "schedules": null,
        "out_of_stock_until": null
      },
      "metadata": {}
    },
    {
      "id": "sides",
      "name": { "en_us": "Sides" },
      "description": { "en_us": "Sides and snacks" },
      "items": [{ "type": "PRODUCT", "id": "fries" }],
      "availability": {
        "status": "ACTIVE",
        "schedules": null,
        "out_of_stock_until": null
      },
      "metadata": {}
    }
  ],
  "modifier_groups": [],
  "menus": [
    {
      "id": "all-day-delivery",
      "name": { "en_us": "All-day delivery" },
      "description": { "en_us": "Standard delivery menu" },
      "schedules": null,
      "metadata": {},
      "category_ids": ["food"],
      "status": "ACTIVE"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Key points

* **Link the menu to the root only.** `menus[].category_ids` lists `food`. Fire spark resolves nested categories from there.
* **Use `type: CATEGORY` to nest.** The parent `food` category does not list products directly — it points to `burgers` and `sides`.
* **Put products on leaf categories.** `classic-burger` and `fries` appear in `items` with `"type": "PRODUCT"` on the subcategories that customers open.
* **Order matters.** `items` order is the display order within each category.
* **Depth limit.** Category nesting supports up to **3 levels** including the root linked from the menu. This example uses two category levels under the menu.

## Related

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Simple menu" icon="utensils" href="/docs/integrations-api/examples/menu-sync/simple-menu">
    Flat category with modifier groups
  </Card>

  <Card title="Categories" icon="list" href="/docs/concepts/categories">
    How nested categories work commercially
  </Card>

  <Card title="Menu sync guide" icon="rotate" href="/docs/integrations-api/guides/menu-sync">
    Full validation rules
  </Card>

  <Card title="Upsert menus" icon="upload" href="/docs/integrations-api/menus/put">
    API reference
  </Card>
</CardGroup>