# Variable Products

Variable products in WooCommerce are products that have multiple options, such as different sizes, colors, or materials. WCPOS provides several ways to work with variable products efficiently.

## Identifying Variable Products[​](#identifying-variable-products "Direct link to Identifying Variable Products")

In the Product Panel, variable products are distinguished by:

* **Arrow button** () instead of the plus button () used for simple products
* **Attribute options** displayed below the product name (e.g., "Colour: Blue, Green, Red")
* **"Expand" link** to view all variations inline

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## Adding Variable Products to Cart[​](#adding-variable-products-to-cart "Direct link to Adding Variable Products to Cart")

### Method 1: Quick Popover[​](#method-1-quick-popover "Direct link to Method 1: Quick Popover")

Click the green  arrow button on a variable product to open a popover with dropdown menus for each attribute:

1. Click the  button
2. Select options from each dropdown (e.g., Size: Large, Colour: Blue)
3. The matching variation is added to the cart

This is the fastest method when you know exactly which variation you need.

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### Method 2: Expand Inline[​](#method-2-expand-inline "Direct link to Method 2: Expand Inline")

Click the **"Expand"** link on a variable product to show all its variations directly in the product list:

1. Click **Expand** below the product name
2. All variations appear as separate rows beneath the parent product
3. Click the  button on any variation to add it to the cart
4. Click **Collapse** to hide the variations again

This method is useful when you want to see all available options, their individual stock levels, and prices.

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### Method 3: Barcode Scanning[​](#method-3-barcode-scanning "Direct link to Method 3: Barcode Scanning")

Each product variation can have its own unique barcode. When you scan a variation's barcode:

* If exactly one variation matches, it's added directly to the cart
* If multiple variations share the barcode, the search bar shows matching results

See [Barcode Scanning](/pos/product-panel/barcode-scanning.md) for more details.

## Variation Information[​](#variation-information "Direct link to Variation Information")

Each variation can display:

* **Variation attributes** - The specific options for this variation (e.g., "Size: Large, Colour: Blue")
* **SKU** - Unique identifier for the variation (may differ from parent product)
* **Stock quantity** - Individual stock level for the variation
* **Price** - Variations can have different prices than the parent or each other

## Variations in the Cart[​](#variations-in-the-cart "Direct link to Variations in the Cart")

When a variation is added to the cart, it displays:

* **Product name** from the parent product
* **Variation attributes** below the name
* **Price** for that specific variation

You can edit the line item just like any other product in the cart.

## Tips for Efficient Variation Selection[​](#tips-for-efficient-variation-selection "Direct link to Tips for Efficient Variation Selection")

### Use Barcode Scanning[​](#use-barcode-scanning "Direct link to Use Barcode Scanning")

If your variations have individual barcodes (recommended), scanning is the fastest way to add them to the cart.

### Configure Display Options[​](#configure-display-options "Direct link to Configure Display Options")

In the Product Panel [Display Settings](/pos/product-panel/.md#display-settings), enable the **Attributes** option to show variation attributes directly in the product list without expanding.

### Keyboard Navigation[​](#keyboard-navigation "Direct link to Keyboard Navigation")

When the variation popover is open, you can use keyboard arrow keys to navigate options and Enter to select.

## F.A.Q.[​](#faq "Direct link to F.A.Q.")

Why can't I see a specific variation?

Check that the variation:

* Is published and not in draft status
* Is set to "In Stock" or has stock quantity > 0 (if stock management is enabled)
* Has all required attributes defined

Also ensure you haven't filtered out the product with the "In Stock" filter if the variation is out of stock.

How do I add barcodes to individual variations?

In WooCommerce, edit the variable product and expand each variation. You can add a unique barcode to each variation's barcode field (typically `_sku` or `_global_unique_id` depending on your configuration).