---
title: "Categories"
description: "List one level of TikTok Shop's category tree."
---

```http
GET | POST /v1/tiktokshop/categories
```

Send parameters as a query string with `GET`, or as a JSON body with `POST`. Both are equivalent.

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| `categoryId` | string |  | Omit for the root departments; give a category id to list its children. |
| `region` | string |  | Buyer country as ISO 3166-1 alpha-2; sets availability, shipping and price. |

## Request

```bash tab="cURL"
curl "https://gateway.apinoa.com/v1/tiktokshop/categories" \
  -H "x-api-key: $APINOA_API_KEY"
```

```js tab="JavaScript"
const res = await fetch("https://gateway.apinoa.com/v1/tiktokshop/categories", {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.APINOA_API_KEY },
});
const { success, data, error } = await res.json();
```

```python tab="Python"
import os

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://gateway.apinoa.com/v1/tiktokshop/categories",
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["APINOA_API_KEY"]},
)
body = res.json()
```

## Response

Returns [`CategoryList`](/docs/api-reference/marketplaces/response-schema#categorylist) in `data`. A real response, shortened: arrays keep their first entries and long text is cut.

```json
{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "marketplace": "tiktokshop",
    "path": [],
    "categories": [
      {
        "id": "605196",
        "name": "Automotive & Motorcycle",
        "hasChildren": true,
        "browsable": true
      },
      {
        "id": "602284",
        "name": "Baby & Maternity",
        "hasChildren": true,
        "browsable": true
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

## Errors

| Status | Code | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 400 | `INVALID_PARAMS` | A parameter is missing, unknown or out of range. The message names it. |
| 401 | `UNAUTHORIZED` | The `x-api-key` header is missing, or the key is revoked or unknown. |
| 402 | `INSUFFICIENT_BALANCE` | The balance does not cover this call. Top up in the dashboard. |
| 404 | `NOT_FOUND` | The category does not exist. |
| 429 | `MARKETPLACE_SATURATED` | Too many concurrent calls. Retry after the `Retry-After` seconds. |
| 502 | `UPSTREAM_ERROR` | The platform answered with something unusable. Retry with backoff. |

Every code is listed in [Errors](/docs/errors). Failed calls are not billed.

## Pricing

**Price** $0.001 per call. [List price](https://apinoa.com/en/pricing); the rate steps down above 1,000 calls a day.

## Notes

- **Omit `categoryId` for the 28 departments.** Pass one to list its children and get its own `path`.
- **Every id it returns is accepted by [Browse](/docs/api-reference/tiktokshop/browse).**