Store and site structure
When Adobe Commerce or Magento Open Source is installed, a hierarchy that includes a main website, store, and store view is created. You can create additional websites, stores, and store views, as needed. For example, in addition to your main website, you might have additional websites with a different domain. Within each website, you can have multiple stores, and within each store, separate store views. Many installations have one website and one store, but with multiple store views to support different languages.
Before you begin, plan your store catalog hierarchy in advance because it is referred to throughout the configuration. Each store can have a separate root category, which makes it possible to have an entirely different set of main menu options for each store.
Add stores
A single installation of Adobe Commerce or Magento Open Source can have multiple stores that share an Admin. Stores that are under the same website have the same IP address and domain, use the same security certificate, and share a single checkout process.
The important thing to understand is that the stores use the same code and share an Admin. Each store can have a separate catalog, or the stores can share a catalog. Each store can have a separate root category, which makes it possible to have a different main menu for each store. Stores can also have different branding, presentation, and content. Take some time to plan your store hierarchy with future growth in mind before you begin, because it is used throughout the configuration.
Here are some examples of how URLs can be configured for multiple stores:
| URL | Description |
|---|---|
yourdomain.com/store1yourdomain.com/store2 | Each store has a different path, but shares a domain. |
store1.yourdomain.comstore2.yourdomain.com | Each store has a different subdomain of the primary domain. |
Multi-store installations of Adobe Commerce must be configured from the Admin and also from the command line of the server. The Adobe Commerce Configuration Guide provides detailed instructions for configuring the server environment.
Step 1: Choose the store domain
The first step is to choose how you want to position the store. Should the stores share a domain, each have a subdomain, or have distinctly different domains? For each store, do one of the following:
- To place the store one level below the primary domain, you do not have to do anything.
- Set up a subdomain of your primary domain.
- Set up a different primary domain.
Step 2: Create the store
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On the Admin sidebar, go to Stores > Settings > All Stores.
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Click Create Store and set the options for the new store:
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Web Site — Choose a website that is to be the parent of the new store. If the installation has only one web site, accept the default (
Main Website). -
Name — Enter a name for the new store. The name is for internal reference only.
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Code — Enter a code in lowercase characters to identify the store. For example:
mainstore. -
Root Category — Set to the root category that defines the category structure for the main menu of the new store. If you have already created a specific root category for the store, select it. Otherwise, select
Default Category. You can come back later and update the setting.
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Click Save Store.
