Catalog synonyms let you map the words shoppers type to a specific catalog target. Use them when visitors search with abbreviations, alternate product names, model names, trim names, or internal terms that should resolve to a known product set instead of broad semantic results.
Use catalog synonyms when a shopper term has a specific business meaning in your catalog.
If a term should behave like normal search, you do not need a synonym rule. Nobi will continue using semantic search, keyword search, SKU lookup, and any existing merchandising rules.
When a shopper searches, Nobi checks active catalog synonym rules for that merchant. If the shopper text matches a synonym and the target has live matching products, Nobi constrains the product results to that target.
A target can be either:
If no synonym rule matches, Nobi uses the normal product search path.
Choose Catalog attributes when the synonym should resolve to a product set defined by catalog data.
Each filter has an attribute, comparator, and value. Attribute and value options come from the live catalog dictionary that Nobi builds during catalog refresh. This keeps rules tied to real catalog data instead of hand-maintained free text.
Common comparators include:
Use multiple filters when the synonym should be narrow. Filters combine together, so a product must satisfy all configured filters.
Choose Specific products when the synonym should always resolve to exact products rather than a broader attribute-defined group.
Search for the products in the target picker, add the intended products, preview the result, then save. This is useful for product nicknames, internal names, or high-value products that visitors ask for by a term that is not present in the catalog text.
The same shopper synonym can appear in more than one rule. When multiple rules match the same search, Nobi combines the matching targets and removes duplicate product variants from the final result.
Nobi refreshes catalog data regularly. Attribute options and value options in the rule editor come from the catalog values Nobi has seen for that merchant.
Because inventory can change, preview rules after major catalog updates or whenever a synonym stops returning the products you expect. If a selected exact attribute value is no longer present, Nobi warns you in the rule editor so you can adjust the target.
Add synonyms that come from real search logs, customer support language, paid search terms, or sales team feedback.
A synonym is most useful when it resolves to a specific product set. Add enough attribute filters to avoid pulling in unrelated products.
For exact matches, choose values from the typeahead when possible. This helps avoid typos and stale values.
If a synonym should always point to a named product, use a specific product target instead of approximating it with broad filters.
Preview shows how the rule maps to the current catalog. Use it to catch missing values, overly broad targets, or stale product selections.