Product Comparison Configuration in 1C-Bitrix
Product comparison functionality in Bitrix is part of the catalog module. Allows customers to add several products to comparison list and view their characteristics in comparison table. Without proper property configuration, the comparison table will be empty or uninformative.
Components for Product Comparison
Comparison is implemented by two components:
-
bitrix:catalog.compare.button— "Add to comparison" button in product card -
bitrix:catalog.compare— page with comparison table
List of compared products is stored in user session (for guests) or in b_catalog_compare (for authorized users, if saving enabled).
Configuring Displayed Properties
In comparison table only infoblock properties with enabled flag "Show in comparison" (IN_COMPARE = Y in table b_iblock_property) are displayed.
Content → Infoblocks → [catalog infoblock] → Properties → [property] → Participate in comparison
For proper comparison you need:
- Enable flag only for meaningful technical characteristics
- Do not enable for text descriptions and fields with unique values
- Ensure property values are filled uniformly (not "220V" and "220 Volts")
Connecting Components
On catalog page or product card the button is connected:
$APPLICATION->IncludeComponent('bitrix:catalog.compare.button', '', [
'IBLOCK_ID' => 5,
'COMPARE_URL' => '/catalog/compare/',
'PRODUCT_ID' => $arResult['ID'],
'COMPARE_STORAGE' => 'SESSION', // or 'USER' for profile saving
]);
Comparison page (/catalog/compare/):
$APPLICATION->IncludeComponent('bitrix:catalog.compare', '', [
'IBLOCK_ID' => 5,
'COMPARE_URL' => '/catalog/compare/',
'PAGE_SIZE' => 3, // number of products in table
]);
Limitations and Common Issues
- Comparison only within one infoblock — standard component doesn't support comparing products from different infoblocks
- Trade offers — main products are compared, not SKUs. To compare SKUs custom template modification needed
- Mobile adaptation — wide comparison table doesn't work well on mobile, requires template modification
Timeframe
Basic product comparison setup with necessary properties — 2–4 hours. Custom template with mobile adaptation and SKU comparison — 4–8 hours.