An app-data metafield is a metafield that is tied to a particular app installation and can only be accessed by that app. App-data metafields can't be overwritten by other apps or by merchants, and can be accessed using GraphQL. You can access app-data metafields using the `metafields` property on the [`app` object in Liquid](/docs/api/liquid/objects/app).

Using app-data metafields, you can provide different levels of features to users depending on their app payment plan by using app-data metafields and [conditional app blocks](/docs/apps/build/online-store/theme-app-extensions/configuration#conditional-app-blocks). You can also store a client ID or client secret in app-data metafields.

This guide shows you how to create an app-data metafield using the GraphQL Admin API.

## Requirements

- Your app can make [authenticated requests](/docs/api/admin-graphql#authentication) to the GraphQL Admin API.

## Step 1: Retrieve the app installation ID
Use the [`currentAppInstallation`](/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/queries/currentAppInstallation) query to retrieve the ID of the [`AppInstallation`](/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/AppInstallation) object associated with the app. You'll use this ID to create an app-data metafield in the next step.

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<script data-option="title" data-value="POST https://{shop}.myshopify.com/admin/api/{api_version}/graphql.json"></script>


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<script data-option="title" data-value="GraphQL query"></script>

<script type="text/plain" data-language="graphql">
RAW_MD_CONTENTquery {
  currentAppInstallation {
    id
  }
}
END_RAW_MD_CONTENT</script>

</div>
</p>

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</div>

<script data-option="title" data-value="Response"></script>

<script type="text/plain" data-language="json">
RAW_MD_CONTENT{
  "data": {
    "currentAppInstallation": {
      "id": "gid://shopify/AppInstallation/123456"
    }
  }
}
END_RAW_MD_CONTENT</script>

</div>
</p>


</div>
</p>


## Step 2: Create an app-data metafield

To create an app-data metafield, use the [`metafieldSet`](/docs/api/admin-graphql/current/mutations/metafieldsSet) mutation and set the `ownerID` to the app installation ID that you retrieved in the [previous step](#step-1-retrieve-the-app-installation-id):

<p>
<div class="react-stacked-code-block ThemeMode-dim" data-preset="stacked">
<script data-option="title" data-value="POST https://{shop}.myshopify.com/admin/api/{api_version}/graphql.json"></script>


<p>
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<script data-option="title" data-value="GraphQL mutation"></script>

<script type="text/plain" data-language="graphql">
RAW_MD_CONTENTmutation CreateAppDataMetafield($metafieldsSetInput: [MetafieldsSetInput!]!) {
  metafieldsSet(metafields: $metafieldsSetInput) {
    metafields {
      id
      namespace
      key
    }
    userErrors {
      field
      message
    }
  }
}
END_RAW_MD_CONTENT</script>

</div>
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<script data-option="title" data-value="Variables"></script>

<script type="text/plain" data-language="json">
RAW_MD_CONTENT{
  "metafieldsSetInput": [
    {
      "namespace": "secret_keys",
      "key": "api_key",
      "type": "single_line_text_field",
      "value": "aS1hbS1hLXNlY3JldC1hcGkta2V5Cg==",
      "ownerId": "gid://shopify/AppInstallation/3"
    }
  ]
}
END_RAW_MD_CONTENT</script>

</div>
</p>


</div>
</p>


After you've created an app-data metafield, you can access its value using the [`metafield` field on the `AppInstallation`](/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/AppInstallation) object.

## Next steps

- Use an app-data metafield to implement a [conditional app block](/docs/apps/build/online-store/theme-app-extensions/configuration#conditional-app-blocks).