How to Display Metafields in Shopify

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Understanding Metafields
3. Adding Metafields to Your Shopify Store
4. Displaying Metafields Using Theme Editor
5. Editing Your Theme Code to Display Metafields
6. Managing Metafields Across Your Store
7. Displaying Custom Metafields in Unique Ways
8. Conclusion

Introduction

Imagine running a thriving online store where customers can see detailed product information such as dimensions, materials, or even ethical sourcing details right on the product page. This is the power of metafields in Shopify. They allow you to add and display customized information, enhancing the user experience and potentially boosting sales. In this guide, you'll learn how to display metafields in Shopify, whether you’re using the new Online Store 2.0 themes or older vintage themes.

By the end of this article, you’ll know how to:

• Connect metafields to your theme using the theme editor.
• Edit your theme code to display metafields.
• Manage metafields across various parts of your store.
• Optimize the user experience by effectively using metafields.

Let's dive in and see how you can leverage metafields to create a more engaging and informative Shopify store.

Understanding Metafields

Metafields in Shopify offer a way to add extra data to objects like products, collections, orders, customers, and more. This additional data can be used to display custom information that wouldn’t usually fit into standard fields provided by Shopify.

Types of Metafields

Metafields can hold various types of data including:

• Text: Simple text data.
• Numbers: Numeric values.
• URLs: Web addresses.
• References: Links to other objects within your store.
• JSON: For more complex data structures.

Standard vs. Custom Definitions

Shopify offers standard definitions for common metafield uses, but you can also create custom definitions to tailor metafields exactly to your needs. While standard definitions are easier to integrate and use, custom definitions offer more flexibility.

Adding Metafields to Your Shopify Store

Before displaying metafields, you need to add them to your Shopify admin panel.

Steps to Add Metafields

1. Navigate to Custom Data Settings: Go to Settings at the bottom left of your Shopify admin, then head to Custom Data > Metafields.
2. Select Metafield Type: Choose the type of object you want to add metafields to (e.g., Products, Collections).
3. Create Definition: Click Add definition, then provide a name, namespace, key, and type for your new metafield.
4. Add Validations: Optionally, you can set validation rules to restrict the type of data entered.
5. Save: Click Save to finalize your new metafield.

Displaying Metafields Using Theme Editor

If you’re using a Shopify Online Store 2.0 theme, displaying metafields can be done directly from the theme editor without requiring any coding.

Steps to Display Metafields with Theme Editor

1. Open Theme Editor: Go to Online Store > Themes and click on Customize for your current theme.
2. Select Product Template: Navigate to the product template you want to edit.
3. Add Content Block: In the Template > Product Information section, add a new block for text or any other supported metafield type.
4. Connect Metafield: Click the 'Add dynamic source' icon and select the metafield you want to display.

Your metafield should now be visible on the product page.

Editing Your Theme Code to Display Metafields

For themes that do not support metafields out of the box, or if you need finer control over how they appear, you may need to edit your theme code.

Steps to Edit Theme Code

1. Access Theme Code: Go to Online Store > Themes, then click on Actions > Edit code.
2. Find Relevant File: Locate the liquid file for the product template (e.g., product-template.liquid).
3. Insert Metafield Code:

   <div class="product-metafields">
     <p>Height: {{ product.metafields.global.height }}</p>
     <p>Width: {{ product.metafields.global.width }}</p>
     <p>Depth: {{ product.metafields.global.depth }}</p>
   </div>
   

4. Save Changes: Once you’ve inserted the code, save the changes and review your product pages to ensure the metafields appear as expected.

Managing Metafields Across Your Store

Metafields aren’t just for products. You can apply them to various parts of your store, such as collections, orders, and customers, to provide richer information and personalized experiences.

Bulk Editing Metafields

Managing metafields for multiple products can be time-consuming if done individually. Shopify offers bulk editing features that simplify this process.

1. Select Products: Go to Products in your Shopify admin and select the products you want to edit.
2. Bulk Edit: Use the Bulk edit option and add the metafield columns you need.
3. Update Values: Enter the new values for the selected products and save your changes.

Displaying Custom Metafields in Unique Ways

Beyond text, you can use metafields to display images, links, and even vendor details, thereby creating a richer and more engaging product page.

Example: Displaying Product Material

If you sell furniture, you might want to display the material each piece is made from:

1. Create Metafield: Add a metafield for material in the Products section.
2. Edit Product Template:

   <div class="product-material">
     <p>Material: {{ product.metafields.custom.material }}</p>
   </div>
   

3. Save and Review: Save your changes and check your product pages.

Conclusion

Metafields are a powerful tool in Shopify that allow you to customize and enrich your online store. From adding dimensions and materials to showcasing brand assets, they provide flexibility and enhance the user experience. By following the steps outlined above, you can start displaying metafields in your Shopify store efficiently.

Leveraging metafields can set your store apart from competitors, provide customers with all necessary details at a glance, and boost your overall customer satisfaction and conversion rates.

FAQ Section

Q1: What are Shopify metafields? A: Shopify metafields are custom fields that allow you to add additional information to various objects within your store, such as products, collections, and customers.

Q2: How do I create metafields? A: Navigate to Settings > Custom Data > Metafields in your Shopify admin, then select the type of object you want to add metafields to and create a definition.

Q3: Can metafields improve my store's SEO? A: Yes, metafield data is crawlable by Google, which can enhance your site's SEO by providing more detailed information to search engines.

Q4: How can I bulk edit metafields? A: Use the bulk edit feature in Shopify by selecting multiple products, adding the metafield columns, and entering the new values.

Q5: Do I need coding skills to use metafields? A: No coding is required when using the Online Store 2.0 theme editor. However, for older themes or advanced customization, some coding knowledge may be necessary.