1. A method comprising: receiving a request for an item in a database storing items of different categories, the item having attributes, wherein the attributes have respective attribute values; finding an item entry for the item in an attribute value table in the database, the item entry having an identification number for the item and the respective attribute values for the attributes; translating the respective attribute values for the attributes of the item, the translating for each attribute value of the respective attribute values including: locating an attribute map entry for the attribute in an attribute map table based on the identification number and a position of the attribute relative to other attributes for the item; and generating a translation of the attribute value based on components of the attribute map entry, the translation to include an attribute type of the attribute value and a category of the different categories of the item having the attribute value; and outputting the translation of the attribute value and the attribute value for each of the attributes.