Magento – the difference between (‘catalog/layer’) and (‘catalog/category’)

categorymagento-1.9

What is the difference between

$category = Mage::getSingleton('catalog/layer')->getCurrentCategory();

and

<?php $_category = Mage::getModel('catalog/category')->load($_category->getId()) ?>

Someone kindly explain.

Best Answer

There are 2 different objects.
A category model is the mapping of a model to the category tables.
A category has a many to many link to the products.
A category usually appears in the top navigation menu.

A layer model does not have a table behind it and it is in charge of the layered navigation.
A layer model has filters associated to it and one of the filters is the list of subcategories for the current category you are viewing.

A layer model does not need a category to display products. It is also used in search results.

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Best Answer

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