To check product availability against inventory, compare the same product and variant on the public listing with the inventory source your store actually uses. Match the channel, location, fulfillment option, and time, then verify each field’s definition. A difference needs investigation; it does not alone prove the listing or stock record is wrong.
Which official sources define inventory and availability?
Shopify’s documentation distinguishes inventory states such as on hand, available, committed, unavailable, and incoming: Shopify inventory states. Its separate guide explains product status and channel availability: Shopify product status and availability. These are Shopify definitions; use the inventory source’s own documentation for another platform.