# Placement
When creating a recommendation, the first step is to define its placement. This is a mandatory setting, and by default, a placement is automatically pre-selected. The placement determines both the variables and the algorithms available for configuring your recommendation.
## What is Placement?
The placement refers to the location on your website where the recommendation will appear (e.g., on a product page, in the cart, or after adding an item to the cart).
### Variables by Placement:
Each placement provides access to specific variables based on its context.\
\&#xNAN;*Example: For the ‘Add to Cart’ placement, the following variables are available:*\
\&#xNAN;*Last viewed products*\
\&#xNAN;*Products in cart*\
\&#xNAN;*Product added to cart*
[Discovery of more variables by placement](https://docs.abtasty.com/recommendations-and-merchandising_deprecated/recommendations/introduction/variables-by-placement)
### Algorithms by Placement:
The placement you choose also determines which algorithms can be used to generate recommendations.
## Assess Your Needs:
Identify the website area or user interaction where you want the recommendation to appear.\
\&#xNAN;*Examples:*\
\&#xNAN;*For cross-selling, consider the ‘Add to Cart’ placement.*\
\&#xNAN;*For product discovery, consider the ‘Home Page’ placement.*
### Select the Placement:
From the dropdown or selection menu, choose the placement that best fits your use case.
### Move to the Next Stage:
After selecting the placement, continue configuring the other elements of your recommendation.
**Additional Configuration Elements**\
Once the placement is defined, proceed to configure the following elements:
* [**Product Groups:**](https://docs.abtasty.com/recommendations-and-merchandising_deprecated/recommendations/introduction/products-groups) Specify the groups of products to include in the recommendation.
* [**Filters:**](https://docs.abtasty.com/recommendations-and-merchandising_deprecated/recommendations/introduction/filters) Apply filters to refine the product selection based on criteria like price, category, or stock.
* [**Products Highlight:**](https://docs.abtasty.com/recommendations-and-merchandising_deprecated/recommendations/introduction-1/products-highlights) Pin specific products to feature them prominently in the recommendation.
* [**Exceptions:** ](https://docs.abtasty.com/recommendations-and-merchandising_deprecated/recommendations/introduction/exceptions)Add dynamic rules to tailor recommendations based on specific triggers or conditions.
* [**Options:**](https://docs.abtasty.com/recommendations-and-merchandising_deprecated/recommendations/introduction/options) Customise additional settings, such as excluding cart items or setting a fixed number of products.
## Save Your Configuration
After defining the placement and other elements, click the ‘Save’ button to ensure your settings are applied.
## Preview Your Recommendation
Use the ‘Preview’ button in the top-right corner to visualise how the recommendation will appear and function.
## Final Notes
* Selecting the right placement is critical to the relevance and effectiveness of your recommendations.
* Regularly review your placements and configurations to align with evolving user behaviour and business goals.
* For additional support, consult the platform documentation or contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM).