Like post types but for the catalog: product types let you separate kinds of products with different behavior or templates - physical products, digital downloads, services, subscriptions.
Default type
The built-in product type covers standard store items. Plugins can add more - e.g. a subscriptions plugin registers types tied to subscription plans, a digital-products plugin ties types to digital assets.
Why types matter
- Templates - themes can render each type differently (
product/<type>.html) - Checkout flow - digital types skip shipping; subscription types create recurring plans
- SEO & sitemaps - schema and title templates per type via the SEO plugin
Manage the list under Settings → Ecommerce → Product types.