---
title: MetaobjectDefinition - GraphQL Admin
description: |-
  Defines the structure and configuration for a custom data type in Shopify. Each definition specifies the fields, validation rules, and capabilities that apply to all [`Metaobject`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/Metaobject) entries created from it.

  The definition includes field definitions that determine what data to store, access controls for [the Shopify admin](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/custom-data/permissions#admin-permissions) and [Storefront](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/custom-data/permissions#storefront-permissions) APIs, and capabilities such as publishability and translatability. You can track which [`App`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/App) or [`StaffMember`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/StaffMember) created the definition and optionally base it on a [`StandardMetaobjectDefinitionTemplate`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/StandardMetaobjectDefinitionTemplate).
api_version: 2026-01
api_name: admin
type: object
api_type: graphql
source_url:
  html: https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/metaobjectdefinition
  md: https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/metaobjectdefinition.md
---

# Metaobject​Definition

object

Requires `read_metaobject_definitions` access scope.

Defines the structure and configuration for a custom data type in Shopify. Each definition specifies the fields, validation rules, and capabilities that apply to all [`Metaobject`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/Metaobject) entries created from it.

The definition includes field definitions that determine what data to store, access controls for [the Shopify admin](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/custom-data/permissions#admin-permissions) and [Storefront](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/custom-data/permissions#storefront-permissions) APIs, and capabilities such as publishability and translatability. You can track which [`App`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/App) or [`StaffMember`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/StaffMember) created the definition and optionally base it on a [`StandardMetaobjectDefinitionTemplate`](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/StandardMetaobjectDefinitionTemplate).

## Fields

* access
* capabilities
* createdByApp
* createdByStaff
* description
* displayNameKey
* fieldDefinitions
* hasThumbnailField
* id
* metaobjects
* metaobjectsCount
* name
* standardTemplate
* type

***

## Map

### Fields and connections with this object

* [Metaobject.definition](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/Metaobject#field-Metaobject.fields.definition)
* [MetaobjectDefinitionConnection.nodes](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/connections/MetaobjectDefinitionConnection#returns-nodes)
* [MetaobjectDefinitionEdge.node](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/objects/MetaobjectDefinitionEdge#field-MetaobjectDefinitionEdge.fields.node)

***

## Queries

* metaobjectDefinition
* metaobjectDefinitionByType
* metaobjectDefinitions

***

## MetaobjectDefinition Queries

### Queried by

* [metaobject​Definition](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/queries/metaobjectDefinition)
* [metaobject​Definition​By​Type](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/queries/metaobjectDefinitionByType)
* [metaobject​Definitions](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/queries/metaobjectDefinitions)

***

## Mutations

* metaobjectDefinitionCreate
* metaobjectDefinitionUpdate
* standardMetaobjectDefinitionEnable

***

## MetaobjectDefinition Mutations

### Mutated by

* [metaobject​Definition​Create](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/mutations/metaobjectDefinitionCreate)
* [metaobject​Definition​Update](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/mutations/metaobjectDefinitionUpdate)
* [standard​Metaobject​Definition​Enable](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/mutations/standardMetaobjectDefinitionEnable)

***

## Interfaces

* Node

***

## MetaobjectDefinition Implements

### Implements

* [Node](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/latest/interfaces/Node)