In Salesforce Commerce Cloud, what is the purpose of the cartridge path?

The cartridge path in Salesforce Commerce Cloud serves a vital role in determining the order in which cartridges are loaded during the application's runtime. This ordering is crucial because it affects the behavior of the application as well as which functionality is available at any given time. When multiple cartridges are present, the system follows the defined cartridge path to resolve dependencies, override functionality, and load resources effectively. By setting this path, developers ensure that custom features and business logic are prioritized over out-of-the-box functionalities when both exist, allowing for streamlined and predictable behavior within the application.

This structure promotes modular design, as developers can create reusable components within cartridges that can be executed in a specific order, facilitating easier maintenance and updates across the application.