> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mercurjs.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Retrieve Product Category

> Retrieve an active, public product category by ID.

Returns a single category; inactive or internal categories return a `404`.

## Path parameters

<ParamField path="id" type="string" required>
  The category's ID.
</ParamField>

## Query parameters

<ParamField query="fields" type="string">
  Comma-separated fields and relations to include; prefix with `+`/`-` to add to or remove from the defaults.
</ParamField>

<ParamField query="include_ancestors_tree" type="boolean">
  Include the category's ancestors in `parent_category`.
</ParamField>

<ParamField query="include_descendants_tree" type="boolean">
  Include the category's descendants in `category_children`.
</ParamField>

## Response

<ResponseField name="product_category" type="object">
  <Expandable title="properties">
    <ResponseField name="id" type="string">The category's ID.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="name" type="string">The category's name.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="description" type="string">The category's description.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="handle" type="string">URL-safe handle.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="rank" type="number">Sort rank among siblings.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="parent_category_id" type="string | null">ID of the parent category.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="parent_category" type="object | null">The parent category.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="category_children" type="object[]">Direct child categories.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="metadata" type="object | null">Custom key-value data.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="created_at" type="string">Creation timestamp.</ResponseField>
    <ResponseField name="updated_at" type="string">Last update timestamp.</ResponseField>
  </Expandable>
</ResponseField>

<RequestExample>
  ```bash cURL theme={null}
  curl 'http://localhost:9000/store/product-categories/pcat_01JB2K6A2B?include_descendants_tree=true' \
    -H 'x-publishable-api-key: pk_01JB2K3XYZ'
  ```

  ```ts JS Client theme={null}
  const { product_category } = await client.store.productCategories.$id.query({
    $id: "pcat_01JB2K6A2B",
    include_descendants_tree: true,
  })
  ```
</RequestExample>

<ResponseExample>
  ```json 200 theme={null}
  {
    "product_category": {
      "id": "pcat_01JB2K6A2B",
      "name": "Shirts",
      "description": "",
      "handle": "shirts",
      "rank": 0,
      "parent_category_id": null,
      "parent_category": null,
      "category_children": [{ "id": "pcat_01JB2K6H7J", "name": "Linen Shirts" }],
      "metadata": null,
      "created_at": "2026-05-01T10:00:00.000Z",
      "updated_at": "2026-05-01T10:00:00.000Z"
    }
  }
  ```
</ResponseExample>