Ecommerce · Website glossary

SKU

Quick answer · What is SKU?

A stock keeping unit is an identifier a business assigns to distinguish inventory items.

IN PRACTICE

SKU: an example

A shop gives the medium blue shirt a different SKU from the large blue shirt.

KEEP IN MIND

An internal SKU is not necessarily a standardized barcode or a manufacturer's identifier.

Put the idea to work

Frequently asked questions

What is a practical example of SKU?

A shop gives the medium blue shirt a different SKU from the large blue shirt.

Is an internal SKU necessarily a standardized barcode?

An internal SKU is not necessarily a standardized barcode or a manufacturer's identifier.

Which concepts should I read alongside SKU?

Product variant: A specific purchasable version of a product distinguished by attributes such as size or color.
Inventory: The quantity and state of items a business tracks as available, reserved, or otherwise held for sale.