---
title: "Create a category"
slug: "create-a-category"
tags: ["Totara Learn", "Site Administrator", "How-to"]
updated: 2022-10-19T12:43:56Z
published: 2022-10-19T12:43:56Z
canonical: "totara.help/create-a-category"
---

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

# Create a category

Follow these steps to create a new [category](/17/docs/what-are-categories):

1. In the quick-access menu go to *Courses and categories > Create new category.*
2. Set the parent category to make a sub-category or leave as **Top** to make this a top-level category.
3. Enter a category name.
4. If you need to match this category against an external system, set a unique ID.
5. Optionally enter a description for your new category.
6. Click **Create Category**.

## Next steps

- [Show or hide a category](/17/docs/show-or-hide-a-category)
- [Edit a category](/17/docs/edit-a-category)
- [Add a subcategory](/17/docs/create-a-subcategory)
- [Create a course](/17/docs/create-a-course)

![Course badge](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/course-badge_courses-and-categories(1).svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-10T18%3A09%3A21Z&se=2026-11-10T19%3A09%3A21Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=Ih17KHIK3K8j9%2BrdTn07%2FbLDWNvRF99a4N1cLLfZJNU%3D)The Totara Academy has a whole course dedicated to using [Courses and categories](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=649) in Totara. Here you can see best practice, learn more and give it a go yourself.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

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