Catalog Attributes and Sets

Attribute Type Overview

-- Attribute types by input type
SELECT frontend_input, COUNT(*) as count
FROM eav_attribute
WHERE entity_type_id = 4
GROUP BY frontend_input
ORDER BY count DESC;
+-----------------+-------+
| frontend_input  | count |
+-----------------+-------+
| text            |    15 |
| textarea        |     5 |
| select          |    10 |
| boolean         |     3 |
| price           |     2 |
| media_image     |     3 |
| multiselect     |     2 |
| date            |     2 |
| weight          |     1 |
| gallery         |     1 |
+-----------------+-------+

Attribute Type Categories

Common Product Attributes

-- Essential product attributes
SELECT attribute_code, frontend_input, backend_type, is_required
FROM eav_attribute
WHERE entity_type_id = 4
AND attribute_code IN (
    'name', 'sku', 'price', 'description',
    'short_description', 'status', 'visibility',
    'tax_class_id', 'weight', 'image',
    'small_image', 'thumbnail', 'url_key'
);
+---------------------+-----------------+--------------+-------------+
| attribute_code      | frontend_input  | backend_type | is_required |
+---------------------+-----------------+--------------+-------------+
| name                | text            | varchar      |           1 |
| sku                 | text            | varchar      |           1 |
| price               | price           | decimal      |           1 |
| description         | textarea        | text         |           0 |
| short_description   | textarea        | text         |           0 |
| status              | boolean         | int          |           1 |
| visibility          | select          | int          |           1 |
| tax_class_id        | select          | int          |           0 |
| weight              | weight          | decimal      |           0 |
| image               | media_image     | varchar      |           0 |
| small_image         | media_image     | varchar      |           0 |
| thumbnail           | media_image     | varchar      |           0 |
| url_key             | text            | varchar      |           0 |
+---------------------+-----------------+--------------+-------------+

Select Attribute Options

// Get attribute options
$attribute = $eavConfig->getAttribute('catalog_product', 'status');

// Get all options
$options = $attribute->getSource()->getAllOptions();
// Returns: [
//     ['value' => '', 'label' => ''],
//     ['value' => 1, 'label' => 'Enabled'],
//     ['value' => 2, 'label' => 'Disabled']
// ]

// Get option by value
$label = $attribute->getSource()->getOptionText(1); // 'Enabled'

// Get option value by label
$value = $attribute->getSource()->getOptionId('Enabled'); // 1

Multiselect Options

// Multiselect attribute stores comma-separated values
$product->setData('features', 'feature1,feature3,feature5');

// Get multiselect values
$values = $product->getData('features');
$array = explode(',', $values); // ['feature1', 'feature3', 'feature5']

// Get labels for values
$attribute = $eavConfig->getAttribute('catalog_product', 'features');
$labels = [];
foreach ($array as $value) {
    $labels[] = $attribute->getSource()->getOptionText($value);
}

Option Management

// Add new option
$optionFactory = $objectManager->get(
    \Magento\Eav\Model\Entity\Attribute\OptionFactory::class
);

$option = $optionFactory->create();
$option->setAttributeId($attributeId);
$option->setLabel('New Option');
$option->setSortOrder(10);
$option->save();

// Delete option
$option->delete();

Built-in Validation

// Required validation
$eavSetup->addAttribute(
    \Magento\Catalog\Model\Product::ENTITY,
    'required_field',
    [
        'type' => 'varchar',
        'input' => 'text',
        'required' => true,
    ]
);

// Unique validation
$eavSetup->addAttribute(
    \Magento\Catalog\Model\Product::ENTITY,
    'unique_field',
    [
        'type' => 'varchar',
        'input' => 'text',
        'unique' => true,
    ]
);

// Validation rules
$eavSetup->addAttribute(
    \Magento\Catalog\Model\Product::ENTITY,
    'validated_field',
    [
        'type' => 'varchar',
        'input' => 'text',
        'validate_rules' => [
            'max_text_length' => 255,
            'min_text_length' => 1,
        ],
    ]
);

Custom Validation

<?php
namespace Vendor\Module\Model\Product\Attribute\Backend;

use Magento\Eav\Model\Entity\Attribute\Backend\AbstractBackend;

class CustomValidation extends AbstractBackend
{
    public function validate($object)
    {
        $value = $object->getData($this->getAttribute()->getAttributeCode());
        
        if ($this->getAttribute()->getIsRequired() && empty($value)) {
            throw new \Magento\Framework\Exception\LocalizedException(
                __('Field %1 is required.', $this->getAttribute()->getFrontendLabel())
            );
        }
        
        if (!empty($value) && strlen($value) < 3) {
            throw new \Magento\Framework\Exception\LocalizedException(
                __('Field %1 must be at least 3 characters.', $this->getAttribute()->getFrontendLabel())
            );
        }
        
        return true;
    }
}

Validation Rules List

max_text_length → Maximum character count
min_text_length → Minimum character count
max_number_length → Maximum digits
min_number_value → Minimum numeric value
max_number_value → Maximum numeric value
input_validation → numeric, email, url
email_validation → true/false
url_validation → true/false

Admin Validation

// Frontend validation in admin
// Magento uses jQuery validation
// Attributes with 'required' = true show required marker
// Validate rules are applied on form submit

// Custom validation JS
define(['jquery'], function($) {
    return function(config) {
        $('#product-edit-form').on('change', '#' + config.attributeCode, function() {
            var value = $(this).val();
            if (value.length < config.minLength) {
                alert('Minimum length is ' + config.minLength);
            }
        });
    };
});

Admin Management

Admin > Stores > Attributes > Product

1. Create Attribute:
   - Attribute Code: custom_field
   - Attribute Label: Custom Field
   - Input Type: Text
   - Required: Yes
   - Scope: Store View

2. Configure Properties:
   - Default Value: Empty
   - Unique: No
   - Validation: None
   - Searchable: Yes
   - Filterable: Yes
   - Comparable: No

3. Add to Attribute Set:
   - Drag to desired group
   - Set sort order

Programmatic Management

// Get all attributes
$collection = $objectManager->get(
    \Magento\Eav\Model\Entity\Attribute\Collection::class
);
$collection->addFieldToFilter('entity_type_id', 4);

foreach ($collection as $attribute) {
    echo $attribute->getAttributeCode();
    echo $attribute->getFrontendInput();
    echo $attribute->getFrontendLabel();
}

// Get attribute by code
$attribute = $eavConfig->getAttribute('catalog_product', 'name');

// Update attribute
$attribute->setFrontendLabel('Product Name');
$attribute->save();

// Delete attribute
$attribute->delete();

Attribute Configuration Options