Required Attributes Definition
Required attributes are product attributes that must be filled in before a product record can be published or distributed. A record missing a required field is considered incomplete and is typically blocked from going live until the gap is resolved.
What makes an attribute required?
The answer depends on context. A product team may define internal required fields — a product title, a main image, a base price — as a minimum standard for any record in the system. Sales channels add their own layer: Amazon, for example, mandates specific fields per category, and a feed will be rejected if they are absent. Regulatory requirements can also force fields into the required category, such as compliance or safety data for products sold in certain markets.
The same attribute can be required for one channel and optional for another, which is why channel-specific publishing rules are a standard feature in PIM systems.
How do required attributes affect workflow?
Required attributes are the foundation of completeness scoring. A product's completeness percentage is typically calculated based on how many required fields are filled, making it immediately visible which records are blocking publication and what work remains before a product can go live.
