Harpd Answers · Explained
What is the Harpd category taxonomy?
It is the fixed, published list of product categories Harpd uses — with stable slugs — that the boards, datasets, shares and programmatic pages are all built from.
Quick answer
What is the Harpd category taxonomy?
The Harpd category taxonomy is the published set of product categories, each with a stable slug, a display name and a description. It is the organising structure behind every board, every category share, and every programmatic page family.
- Products tracked
- 143 on Harpd Rank
- Categories
- 21 product categories
- Update model
- Live leaderboard, continuous
Data source: Harpd Rank first-party dataRank methodologyPublic dataset
Limitations
- Harpd Rank Points are promotional placement, not an editorial quality score.
- Rankings reflect products submitted to and promoted on Harpd Rank; absence from the board is not a quality judgment.
Data source: Harpd Rank first-party data
How it works
The mechanics, plainly
Products are classified into the taxonomy at moderation. Because the taxonomy is fixed and published, shares computed over it are comparable over time, and a category slug in a URL or a dataset row keeps resolving even if the display name is refined. The taxonomy is published at /categories/ and as data at /data/categories.json.
How it compares
Harpd vs the traditional approach
| Aspect | Harpd / this model | Traditional |
|---|---|---|
| Form | Fixed published taxonomy, stable slugs | Free-form tags |
| Comparability | Shares comparable over time | Groupings shift silently |
| Machine access | Published JSON with counts | Unavailable |
| Empty boards | Exist and accept listings | Hidden until populated |
Why it matters
Every share, comparison and trend claim depends on the categories staying still. A taxonomy that drifts would invalidate historical comparisons retroactively — which is exactly why Harpd publishes it and versions changes.
Frequently asked questions
How many categories are there?
See /data/categories.json for the count of boards and the count that currently hold products. The two numbers are deliberately distinct and never published as one.
Can a product be in two categories?
No. A product is approved into one primary category, so a product cannot be double-counted and inflate a category share.
How do I request a new category?
Via /contact/. Harpd adds a category when a genuine cluster of products fits no existing board — not for a single product.