About Shopify APIs
Shopify offers a suite of APIs that allow developers to extend the platform’s built-in features. These APIs allow Partners to read and write merchant data, interoperate with other systems and platforms, and add new functionality to Shopify.
Requirements for using Shopify APIs
- All APIs are subject to the Shopify API License and Terms of Use
- All APIs are subject to rate limits
- All APIs require developers to authenticate
- Some APIs are versioned
Scopes and permissions
- Some API features are only available to merchants on premium plans
- Depending on the app type you’re creating, you may need to request certain permissions or access scopes when merchants install your app
- With a few APIs, you’ll need to request access from Shopify and be approved before you can start making calls
Available APIs
Admin API
The Admin API is used to read and write data about merchant stores, products, orders, and more. You can use the Admin API to build apps that add features to the Shopify admin, the store management interface used by merchants. The Admin API is accessible using either GraphQL (recommended) or REST.
Learn more about the Admin API
Storefront API
The Storefront API is used to extend Shopify buying experiences into web, mobile, and gaming environments that go beyond Shopify's built-in sales channels such as the online store or Shopify POS. It allows developers to work with customer and product data, and to create custom storefronts. Sometimes you'll see this approach referred to as headless commerce.
The Storefront API is accessible using GraphQL. To access the Storefront API, apps need a storefront access token with the unauthenticated access scopes.
Learn more about the Storefront API
Partner API
The Partner API is used to programmatically access the data found in the Partner Dashboard. This access enables Partners to effectively scale their business by automating their front and back office operations, freeing up time to focus on delivering value to Shopify merchants.
The Partner API is accessible using GraphQL.
Learn more about the Partner API
Liquid
The Liquid templating language is used to build Shopify themes. Liquid is an open-source language used by thousands of other projects to mix static HTML with dynamic Liquid tags. Liquid is based on the syntax of Ruby.
In addition to the standard templating functionality available in the open source version of Liquid, Shopify stores have access to an additional set of Liquid objects that function as an API for shop data. Shopify Liquid allows you to access a variety of dynamic Shopify-specific data within themes, such as product collections, discount codes, shipping methods, and more.
Ajax API
The Ajax API is used with Shopify themes to update a buyer’s shopping cart without having to refresh the browser. Examples include getting basic product information, adding a product to a shopping cart, or clearing the cart contents.
Deprecated APIs
Deprecated APIs remain available but are unsupported and can stop working at any time. Developers should migrate to supported alternatives as soon as possible.