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

# Get category tree

> Returns hierarchical category tree.



## OpenAPI

````yaml api-reference/v1/openapi.yaml get /v1/reference/categories
openapi: 3.1.0
info:
  title: Goods API
  version: 1.0.0
  description: >-
    API for Goods grocery operations - scanner app, admin dashboard, and
    customer features
  contact:
    name: Goods Team
    url: https://goods.app
servers:
  - url: http://localhost:3000
    description: Local development
  - url: https://dev.api.switchyard.run
    description: Development
  - url: https://api.switchyard.run
    description: Production
security: []
tags:
  - name: v1
    description: API v1 - unified domain-based endpoints
  - name: Scanner
    description: Scanner app endpoints for drivers and pickers
  - name: Sweeps
    description: Sweep management - retail store pickup operations
  - name: RFC Picks
    description: Ready-for-checkout picking operations
  - name: Inventory
    description: Inventory management and barcode lookup
  - name: Admin
    description: Admin dashboard endpoints
  - name: Orders
    description: Order management
  - name: Products
    description: Product catalog management
  - name: Notifications
    description: Push, email, SMS, and Slack notification management
paths:
  /v1/reference/categories:
    get:
      tags:
        - Reference
      summary: Get category tree
      description: Returns hierarchical category tree.
      responses:
        '200':
          description: Hierarchical category tree
          content:
            application/json:
              schema:
                $ref: '#/components/schemas/CategoriesResponse'
components:
  schemas:
    CategoriesResponse:
      type: object
      properties:
        categories:
          type: array
          items:
            $ref: '#/components/schemas/CategoryNode'
        count:
          type: number
      required:
        - categories
        - count
    CategoryNode:
      type: object
      properties:
        id:
          type: string
        name:
          type: string
        level:
          type: number
        parent_id:
          type: string
          nullable: true
        children:
          type: array
          items:
            nullable: true
          description: Child category nodes (recursive)
      required:
        - id
        - name
        - level
        - parent_id
        - children

````