---
title: "Early access: Declarative Custom Data Definitions - Shopify developer changelog"
description: Shopify’s developer changelog documents all changes to Shopify’s platform. Find the latest news and learn about new platform opportunities.
source_url:
  html: https://shopify.dev/changelog/declarative-custom-data-definitions
  md: https://shopify.dev/changelog/declarative-custom-data-definitions.md
---

[Back to Developer changelog](https://shopify.dev/changelog)

May 21, 2025

Tags:

* Tools
* 2025-07

# Early access: Declarative Custom Data Definitions

Declarative custom data definitions offer a streamlined approach for managing and maintaining metafields and metaobjects. Key benefits include:

* Metafield and metaobject definitions are organized in TOML, and managed through the improved [`app dev`](https://shopify.dev/beta/next-gen-dev-platform/shopify-app-dev) command.
* Shopify automatically distributes these definitions to multiple shops simultaneously, significantly speeding up migration processes.
* Updates are atomic, ensuring that all stores consistently maintain the same version of your definitions.
* All declarative definitions include app-scoped limits, which prevent resource competition among different apps.

For more information, see the [declarative custom data documentation](https://shopify.dev/beta/next-gen-dev-platform/declarative-custom-data-definitions) on shopify.dev.