Quick Insight
Category tags are descriptive labels added to a point of interest to describe it in more detail than a standard industry code allows. A single place can carry multiple tags at once, capturing detail a broad classification system misses.
Why Category Tags Matter
- They solve a real limitation of industry classification codes, which can only assign one broad category per place.
- They let a place carry multiple, specific descriptors at once, like a restaurant tagged both “Pizza” and “Italian Food.”
- They make data far more useful for things like mapping apps, site selection, and trade area analysis, where “Mexican food” is more meaningful than an abstract industry code.
- The honest limit: more detailed categorization means more room for inconsistency. Tags need ongoing maintenance to stay accurate as businesses change what they offer or rebrand.
How Category Tags Differ from NAICS Codes
- NAICS codes assign one single classification to a place, like “Full-Service Restaurant.”
- Category tags allow multiple, more specific descriptors on top of that classification, like “Pizza” or “Italian Food,” or medical specialties for a healthcare facility.
Want to see how category tags add detail beyond NAICS codes?
Read our post: Introducing Expanded SafeGraph Category Tags: More Granular Than NAICS Codes
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What's the difference between category tags and NAICS codes?
A NAICS code assigns a single classification to a place. Category tags allow multiple, more specific descriptors on top of that.
2. Why weren't NAICS codes enough on their own?
They were designed decades ago for government classification, not for the level of detail modern data analysis needs, so a lot of nuance gets lost in one broad code.
3. Can one place have more than one category tag?
Yes, that’s the whole point. For example, a healthcare facility might get tags describing specific medical specialties rather than one generic label.
4. Do category tags replace NAICS codes?
No, they work alongside them, adding detail rather than replacing the underlying classification.
5. Who benefits most from category tags?
Anyone doing detailed location analysis, like site selection or trade area research, where knowing the specific type of business matters more than a broad category.
