| Type | Composite[^1] | Inventory[^2] | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | - | Yes | The most basic form of product | Example Show archive.org snapshot |
| Grouped | Yes | No | Several simple products displayed together, customer selection determines one or more simple products to be added to the basket, which are shown in the basket as seperate products | Example Show archive.org snapshot |
| Configurable | Yes | No | Allows choosing of options which determines a single simple product to be added to the basket | Example Show archive.org snapshot |
| Virtual | No | Yes | A simple product which will never be shipped, and as such needs no shipping information | |
| Bundle | Yes | No | Allows choosing of options which determines one or more simple products to be added to the basket, which are shown in the basket as one product | Example Show archive.org snapshot |
| Downloadable | No | Yes | A simple product with one or more downloads associated with it, essentially a virtual product with a download | |
| Gift Card | No | ? | A simple product whose purchase results in a gift card being sent to the purchaser |
[^1]: A product which is composed of multiple simple products, and whose purchase results in one more of those products being purchased
[^2]: Whether inventory (quantity) is managable on the product type itself, irrespective of composed products
The Difference Between Grouped and Bundle Products
The difference occurs when you actually add to your cart - grouped products
appear as single products, as though you have had added them individually,
whereas bundle appear as one product in the cart, in the same way that a
configurable product does. See this example:
Posted by Mike Whitby to Magento (2012-03-19 17:27)