---
title: markets.json
description: About the markets.json config file.
source_url:
  html: 'https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/markets-json'
  md: >-
    https://shopify.dev/docs/storefronts/themes/architecture/config/markets-json.md
---

# markets.json

The `markets.json` file controls how theme customizations are inherited downstream across different markets. This file only appears in your theme's config folder when you have market-specific customizations.

While Shopify's markets feature allows one market to inherit from multiple parents, theme customizations require each market to have only one parent. The `markets.json` file manages this structure and allows developers to modify it.

***

## Location

When a theme contains market-specific customizations, the `markets.json` file is located in its `config` directory:

```text
└── theme
  ...
  ├── config
  |   ├── settings_data.json
  |   ├── settings_schema.json
  |   └── markets.json
  └── locales
```

***

## Usage

The `markets.json` lists the markets for which the theme was customized and their source of inheritance.

Here is an example of a `markets.json` file for a theme that includes customizations for the following markets: North America, Canada, United States, and Europe.

## config/markets.json

```json
/*
 * ------------------------------------------------------------
 * IMPORTANT: The contents of this file are auto-generated.
  *
 * This file may be updated by the Shopify admin theme editor
 * or related systems. Please exercise caution as any changes
 * made to this file may be overwritten.
 * ------------------------------------------------------------
  */
{
  "markets": {
    "europe": {
      "parent": "@default"
    },
  "north-america": {
      "parent": "@default"
    },
  "canada": {
      "parent": "north-america"
    },
  "united-states": {
      "parent": "north-america"
    }
  }
}
```

In this example, the North America and Europe markets inherit from the store default. The Canada and United States markets inherit from North America.

When you customize a theme for a new market, Shopify sets the source of inheritance automatically. To customize this inheritance, update the `parent` field for the market in `markets.json`. The value for `parent` can be set to:

* Store default (`@default`): This is the default parent for all markets.
* Any parent market handle for that given market.

***