SKU (Stock Keeping Unit)

A SKU, or stock keeping unit, is a unique internal identifier used by a business to track and manage a specific product or product variant. SKUs are used for catalog organization, inventory control, and operational workflows inside commerce systems.

A SKU is usually assigned to each sellable version of a product, which means different sizes, colors, or configurations may each have their own SKU. This makes SKUs important for distinguishing variants within a catalog.

In ecommerce systems, SKUs help connect product data across storefronts, inventory tools, order systems, and product feeds. They provide a stable reference that allows businesses to match products correctly across internal and external platforms.

SKUs are important because digital commerce depends on accurate product organization and operational consistency. Without clear identifiers, businesses risk confusion in inventory management, fulfillment, and catalog updates.

In the context of visual commerce, SKUs connect to product variants, product feeds, product pages, and marketplace integration because specific product images often need to be matched to the correct version of a product.