What is a cartridge in Salesforce Commerce Cloud?

A cartridge in Salesforce Commerce Cloud is fundamentally a modular package designed for extending platform functionality. This structure offers developers a convenient method to encapsulate code, configurations, and other assets needed for a particular functionality or feature set. Each cartridge can include various types of files such as scripts, stylesheets, templates, and configurations, thus allowing developers to develop, package, and maintain features in a manageable way.

Using cartridges also enables the possibility of reusing and sharing code across various projects, promoting consistent development practices. They can also be stacked together, allowing for enhanced capabilities and flexibility when extending the core features of the Salesforce Commerce Cloud platform.

By utilizing cartridges, developers can create distinctive features that cater to specific business needs or integrate with third-party services, enhancing the overall functionality of their Salesforce Commerce Cloud environment. The modular nature of cartridges enables easier updates and maintenance, contributing to a more efficient development lifecycle.