Should a product attribute be stored as a tag or a metafield?

Store an attribute as a metafield when it has a defined meaning, datatype or customer-facing use, such as material, dimensions, compatibility or care instructions. Use a tag when you only need a lightweight label for grouping, automation or internal organisation. Structured metafields are generally easier to validate, reuse and expose consistently across product pages, filters, feeds and APIs. If an attribute may matter to search, recommendations or AI agents, treating it as structured data is usually the stronger long-term choice.