---
title: MetafieldReference - Customer API
description: Returns the resource which is being referred to by a metafield.
api_version: 2026-01
api_name: customer
type: union
api_type: graphql
source_url:
  html: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/unions/MetafieldReference'
  md: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/unions/MetafieldReference.md'
---

# Metafield​Reference

union

Returns the resource which is being referred to by a metafield.

## Possible types

* [Generic​File](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/GenericFile)

  OBJECT

  The generic file resource lets you manage files in a merchant's store. Generic files include any file that doesn't fit into a designated type such as image or video. Example: PDF, JSON.

  * alt

    [String](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/String)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A word or phrase to indicate the contents of a file.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A globally-unique ID.

  * media​Content​Type

    [Media​Content​Type!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/enums/MediaContentType)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The media content type.

  * mime​Type

    [String](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/String)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The MIME type of the file.

  * original​File​Size

    [Int](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/Int)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The size of the original file in bytes.

  * preview​Image

    [Image](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Image)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The preview image for the media.

  * url

    [URL](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/URL)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The URL of the file.

* [Media​Image](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/MediaImage)

  OBJECT

  Represents a Shopify hosted image.

  * alt

    [String](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/String)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A word or phrase to share the nature or contents of a media.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A globally-unique ID.

  * image

    [Image](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Image)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The image for the media.

  * media​Content​Type

    [Media​Content​Type!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/enums/MediaContentType)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The media content type.

  * preview​Image

    [Image](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Image)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The preview image for the media.

* [Metaobject](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Metaobject)

  OBJECT

  An instance of a user-defined model based on a MetaobjectDefinition.

  * field

    [Metaobject​Field](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/MetaobjectField)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    Accesses a field of the object by key.

    * key

      [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/String)

      required

      ### Arguments

      The key of the field.

    ***

  * fields

    [\[Metaobject​Field!\]!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/MetaobjectField)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    All object fields with defined values. Omitted object keys can be assumed null, and no guarantees are made about field order.

  * handle

    [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/String)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The unique handle of the metaobject. Useful as a custom ID.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A globally-unique ID.

  * type

    [String!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/String)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The type of the metaobject.

  * updated​At

    [Date​Time!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/DateTime)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The date and time when the metaobject was last updated.

* [Model3d](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Model3d)

  OBJECT

  Represents a Shopify hosted 3D model.

  * alt

    [String](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/String)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A word or phrase to share the nature or contents of a media.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A globally-unique ID.

  * media​Content​Type

    [Media​Content​Type!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/enums/MediaContentType)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The media content type.

  * preview​Image

    [Image](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Image)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The preview image for the media.

  * sources

    [\[Model3d​Source!\]!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Model3dSource)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The sources for a 3d model.

* [Video](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Video)

  OBJECT

  Represents a Shopify hosted video.

  * alt

    [String](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/String)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A word or phrase to share the nature or contents of a media.

  * id

    [ID!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/scalars/ID)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    A globally-unique ID.

  * media​Content​Type

    [Media​Content​Type!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/enums/MediaContentType)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The media content type.

  * preview​Image

    [Image](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Image)

    [Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The preview image for the media.

  * sources

    [\[Video​Source!\]!](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/VideoSource)

    non-null[Pre-auth accessible](https://shopify.dev/docs/apps/build/customer-accounts/order-status-page#customer-account-api)

    The sources for a video.

***

## Fields with this union

* [Metafield.reference](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Metafield#field-Metafield.fields.reference)

  OBJECT

  The custom metadata attached to a resource. Metafields can be sorted into namespaces and are comprised of keys, values, and value types.

* [Metafield.references](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/Metafield#field-Metafield.fields.references)

  OBJECT

  The custom metadata attached to a resource. Metafields can be sorted into namespaces and are comprised of keys, values, and value types.

* [Metafield​Reference​Connection.nodes](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/connections/MetafieldReferenceConnection#returns-nodes)

  CONNECTION

  An auto-generated type for paginating through multiple MetafieldReferences.

* [Metafield​Reference​Edge.node](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/MetafieldReferenceEdge#field-MetafieldReferenceEdge.fields.node)

  OBJECT

  An auto-generated type which holds one MetafieldReference and a cursor during pagination.

* [Metaobject​Field.reference](https://shopify.dev/docs/api/customer/latest/objects/MetaobjectField#field-MetaobjectField.fields.reference)

  OBJECT

  Provides the value of a Metaobject field.

***

```graphql
union MetafieldReference = GenericFile | MediaImage | Metaobject | Model3d | Video
```