# Stock locations

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Stock locations hold the stock items that make up an organization's inventory and are the building blocks of inventory models. Inventory stock locations drive SKU availability, return stock locations define return options.
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## What is a stock location?

[Stock locations](/core-api-reference/stock_locations.md) hold stock items — the available inventory of an SKU — that are to be sold. They are the building blocks of inventory models. An organization may have one or more stock locations, each with its own unique address.

You can manage SKUs' inventory in a stock location, including raw materials, processed goods, and finished products. This lets merchants track which SKUs are available for sale and manage their availability across one or more locations.

Two types of stock locations play distinct roles in Commerce Layer:

* **Inventory stock locations** — determine the availability of SKUs being purchased.
* **Return stock locations** — determine the available options for returns.


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