Google added eight new categories for apps on its Play store, as part of a drive “to improve the overall search experience”.

Discoverability has become a key issue for developers as app store catalogues get more crowded, and the move will enable apps to now be assigned to what may be a more appropriate category.

The new options are: Art & Design, Auto & Vehicles, Beauty, Dating, Events, Food & Drink, House & Home and Parenting.

The company said it is also renaming two categories: Transportation to Maps & Navigation and the Media & Video category to Video Players & Editors.

For developers, it said the additions would help get apps in front of more people, making its categories “more comprehensive and relevant to what users are looking for today”.

“With more than 1 billion active users in 190 countries around the world, Google Play continues to be an important distribution platform for you to build a global audience,” said Sarah Karam, Google Play Apps business development executive.

“To help you get your apps in front of more users, it’s important to make them more quickly and easily discoverable in Google Play.”

The change will go into effect over the next 60 days.