--- gid: c774c2e7-234a-443e-b922-ea532564eb6c title: Themes description: Build and customize themes template: landing_page hidden: true --- Create a new theme based on Shopify’s reference theme, Dawn Update the look and feel of an existing theme to tailor it to a merchant’s unique needs )} > Themes shape the online store experience for merchants and their customers. Build fast, flexible themes at scale using Liquid, Shopify's theme templating language, along with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JSON.
Shopify themes are a package of template files, building blocks, and supporting assets. Use these building blocks to create modular, customizable themes. The Liquid templating language is the backbone of Shopify themes, and is used to load dynamic content on storefronts. Extend Liquid objects to store and present custom data using metafields.
Dawn is our vision for the next generation of Shopify themes. Browse the code on GitHub, then use it as a starting point to build your own theme.
Make your theme more flexible and easier to maintain by migrating it to the new architecture. Using Online Store 2.0, you can add and remove sections from any template, and prepare your theme for [app blocks](/docs/apps/build/online-store/theme-app-extensions). Shopify provides a range of tools to help you to collaborate and build themes faster.
Initialize, preview, test and share themes in your local development environment. Integrate GitHub into your Shopify admin to manage your theme code. Detect errors and enforce best practices as you code, or as part of your CI pipeline.
Design beautiful, purpose-built themes for different markets, and sell them to millions of merchants on the Shopify Theme Store.