Add short descriptions to categories and collections

Problem

Category and collection pages often require two separate content areas:

• a short introductory description displayed below the page title and above the product list;
• the existing rich-text description displayed below the product list.

Currently, Saleor provides only one translatable rich-text description field. Using metadata for the short description provides no typed API, standard validation, or translation support.

Proposed solution: add a translatable plain-text shortDescription field to categories and collections.

Discord Discussion Link

https://discord.com/channels/864066819866624010/1527307080263008336

General Assumptions

• ShortDescription is optional plain text.
• The existing description field remains unchanged and continues to store Editor.js rich content.
• The field is supported for both categories and collections.
• The field is supported by create, update, query, and translation operations.
• Existing MANAGE_PRODUCTS and MANAGE_TRANSLATIONS permissions apply.
• Existing category, collection, and translation webhooks are triggered when the field changes.
• The change is backward-compatible and does not modify existing API behaviour.
• Empty values are accepted and returned consistently.
• Reading and updating the field should not introduce additional queries or meaningful performance overhead.
• The field must work efficiently for large category and collection datasets.

API Changes

No new mutations are required.

Add shortDescription: String to:

• Category
• Collection
• CategoryTranslation
• CollectionTranslation
• category and collection translatable content types

Add shortDescription to:

• CategoryInput
• CollectionInput
• category translation input
• collection translation input
• relevant bulk translation inputs, if supported

The existing category and collection create, update, and translation mutations should accept the new field.

Database Changes

Add an optional plain-text field to:

• Category
• Collection
• CategoryTranslation
• CollectionTranslation

Suggested model field:

short_description = models.TextField(blank=True)

UML Diagrams

No response

To Do List

• Add database fields and migrations.
• Expose the fields in Category and Collection GraphQL types.
• Extend create and update mutation inputs.
• Extend translation types and mutation inputs.
• Support the field in bulk translation operations where applicable.
• Ensure existing permissions are applied.
• Ensure existing webhooks are triggered on changes.
• Add API tests for create, update, query, clear, and translation use cases.
• Add permission and error-handling tests.
• Update GraphQL API documentation.

Testing Requirements

No response