What is Shopify JSON? How to Create a Shopify JSON Template?

Shopify JSON was first introduced as part of Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 update to revolutionize the way merchants design and manage their storefronts. Before JSON templates, Shopify relied predominantly on Liquid templates (a template language created by Shopify), which are powerful but less flexible for customization and layout management without coding.

JSON templates were created to provide merchants and developers with a more modular and user-friendly way to build pages by customizing sections directly through Shopify’s theme editor. As eCommerce continues to evolve, understanding how to use Shopify JSON can unlock new ways to tailor user experiences and streamline store management.

This blog will guide you through the basics of what Shopify JSON is and provide practical steps to create and use JSON templates effectively.

What Are Shopify JSON and Shopify JSON Templates?

What is Shopify JSON?

Shopify JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format used within Shopify’s ecosystem to structure information dynamically. It helps Shopify store information in a clear and easy-to-read way.

What are Shopify JSON templates?

A Shopify JSON template is a special file that controls how different parts of a page are arranged on your Shopify store pages. Instead of needing to write complex code, you can easily add, remove, or move sections right from the Shopify theme editor. They are ideal for quickly changing layouts and page designs to different products, collections, or marketing campaigns.

JSON is a lightweight data format, which means it requires less storage space and bandwidth, allowing data to be transmitted quickly over the internet. That’s why JSON templates get faster loading times for websites and applications. This is helpful for stores with large product and variant inventories that might slow down page speed.

Read more: How Many Products Can You Have on Shopify? – Full Breakdown

Because JSON templates support modular editing and app integration, they are especially beneficial for stores using Shopify Online Store 2.0 themes. Whether you want different product pages for various product types or promotional pages that change with the seasons, JSON templates make it simple to create unique, dynamic layouts.

Additionally, these templates help reduce clutter by storing their own settings data, making store management cleaner and more efficient. Overall, JSON Shopify templates are a great choice for merchants who want to take full advantage of Shopify’s latest theme features and performance improvements.

What are the benefits of Shopify JSON templates?

Using JSON templates provides several advantages:

• Flexibility: Easily create dynamic page layouts tailored to different product types or marketing campaigns.
• Performance: JSON templates can improve page load times by structuring data efficiently.
• Customization: Merchants gain more control over the storefront experience without extensive coding.
• Integration: Smoothly work with Shopify APIs and third-party apps for more complex tasks like importing reviews, discount codes, metafields,…

How Are Shopify JSON Templates Different from Liquid Templates

Shopify offers two main template formats for building and customizing storefronts: JSON and Liquid. While both serve the purpose of shaping how your store looks and functions, they differ significantly. Understanding these differences helps merchants choose the right approach.

Feature	JSON Templates	Liquid Templates
Purpose	Easily add, remove, and rearrange page sections	Add complex logic and dynamic content
Flexibility	High flexibility for layout changes	Very flexible but requires coding
Performance	Usually faster to load	Can be slower depending on the code
Use Case	Flexible storefront design and API integration	Complex logic, detailed content manipulation
Coding	Generally easier for layouts	Requires deeper coding understanding

Shopify JSON templates focus on easy, modular layout customization, while Liquid templates provide more powerful coding flexibility for dynamic content.

How to Create Shopify JSON Templates in 4 Steps

Creating a JSON template allows you to build customizable and flexible store pages that can be easily managed through the Shopify theme editor. 

Here’s a detailed guide to help set up your own JSON template in Shopify:

• Step 1: Create a new JSON template file
• Step 2: Build your templates in Theme Editor
• Step 3: Assign your JSON template to a resource
• Step 4: Preview and refine your template

Step 1: Create a new JSON template file

The first thing you need to do is navigate to Online Store > Themes in your Shopify Admin. There, find the theme that you want to edit, click the three dots, and select Edit code in the dropdown list.

This opens the theme’s code editor, where you can create and modify theme files.

Here are the theme file types you can create in Shopify using JSON templates:

Type	Description
404	Shows a “Page Not Found” message when visitors enter an invalid URL.
article	Displays a single blog post, with optional comments.
blog	Lists all blog posts within a specific blog.
cart	Shows the shopping cart with all items a customer has added.
collection	Displays all products in a specific collection.
list-collections	Shows a list of all collections in your store
customers/account	Overview page for a logged-in customer’s account.
customers/activate_account	Page for new customers to activate their account.
customers/addresses	Let customers view, add, and manage shipping addresses.
customers/login	Login form for customer accounts.
customers/register	Sign-up form for creating a new customer account.
customers/reset_password	Form for customers to reset their password.
customers/order	Displays details of a customer’s past orders.
index	The main homepage of your store, located at the root URL (/).
page	Standard shop pages (e.g., About Us, Contact Us).
password	Landing page shown when the store is password-protected.
product	Shows details of a single product (images, description, add-to-cart).
search	Displays search results for products or content.
metaobject	Renders special pages for custom data types (e.g., artists, authors).

Inside the code editor, locate the Templates folder. Here, create a new template by clicking the New file icon. Give your file a name following one of the types above to keep things organized and save it with the filename extension .json (e.g., product.demo.json).

In your new JSON template file, Shopify will automatically create a default code snippet for you. To make the template function properly, you’ll need to remove it and paste the following code instead:

{
"sections": {
"slideshow": {
"type": "slideshow",
"settings": {
}
}
},
"order": [
"slideshow"
]
}

This code snippet provides a simple JSON template structure by creating a slideshow section on your page. After adding the code, click Save.

Step 2: Build your templates in Theme Editor

Once you’ve created your JSON Shopify template, you can use it as a foundation to build additional templates directly in the theme editor. To get started, in your Theme page, click the Customize button next to your theme to open the Theme Editor.

On the header of the Theme Editor, there is a center menu that shows the template you’re currently editing. When you first open the editor, this menu displays Home page as the default. You need to press it and choose the template you want in the drop-down menu. In this example, select Product and choose Demo.

Here, you can customize the template to suit your specific needs. You can add, move, or remove sections all across your template. After customizing, you can save your template layout and publish it to your store.

To add more templates from your newly created template, choose Create template in the center menu (now displayed as demo), enter a name, and choose to base it on your demo template.

Step 3: Assign your JSON template to a resource

Once your JSON Shopify templates are ready, go back to your Shopify admin and open the resource you want to customize.  Under the Theme templates dropdown, select your new JSON template. This assigns the layout you created to that specific resource.

In this example, to apply product.demo.json to a specific product, navigate to Product,  open the product you want, and select ‘demo’ as the template.

Step 4: Preview and refine your template

When you’re done, visit your storefront and check how the JSON templates look in action. Also, you should remember to test on different devices to ensure responsiveness and usability. 

If anything looks off or you want to add features, return to the code editor and adjust the Shopify JSON accordingly until you achieve the perfect layout.

How to Retrieve JSON Data from Shopify

JSON data from Shopify is simple and useful for detailed store information, like products or collections, in a structured format. Here are the steps to retrieve Shopify JSON data:

• Step 1: Identify your API URL
• Step 2: Access the JSON data in your browser
• Step 3: Interpret and use the JSON Data

Step 1: Identify your API URL

Shopify provides a REST API endpoint that lets you access data in Shopify JSON format. For example, to get product data, you append /products.json to your store’s base URL. If your store URL is https://yourstore.myshopify.com, you visit https://yourstore.myshopify.com/products.json to see JSON data about your products.

Step 2: Access the JSON data in your browser

To access Shopify JSON data, first, log in to your Shopify admin and open a new browser tab. Here, you need to type your store’s URL followed by the relevant .json endpoint, such as /products.json, /collections.json, etc., and hit Enter.

This will display raw JSON data on your screen containing detailed information about products, collections, and other data types.

Step 3: Interpret and use the JSON Data

In the URL, you can see a structured JSON object containing the requested data. You can use this JSON directly for building customized storefronts, importing into apps, or feeding to external systems.

Common Use Cases for Shopify JSON Templates

Shopify JSON is highly versatile and can be used to create customized and dynamic pages across your store. Here are some common and easy-to-understand use cases:

• Different page types: You can create unique JSON templates for various page types like product pages, blog posts, or collection pages. This lets you design each page type to best showcase its content, such as highlighting product features on product pages or displaying blog content elegantly.
• Alternate templates for the same page: Suppose you want certain products shown with a video demo while others use image galleries; JSON templates let you create different layouts for the same page type. You can assign these alternate templates to different products or pages, tailoring the shopping experience.
• Context-specific templates: Shopify JSON can adapt based on specific buyer contexts. For example, create a holiday sale template with festive banners or a luxury theme template for high-end products. This customization helps engage different customer segments effectively.

Best Practices for Using JSON Templates in Shopify

To make the most out of JSON Shopify templates, following these practices ensures your store remains flexible, maintainable, and optimized for performance:

• Combine JSON with Liquid: While JSON templates handle layout well, Liquid is still essential for dynamic content and complex logic. You can use Liquid for tasks like conditional displays, loops, or data manipulation paired with JSON templates for layout control.
• Test across different devices: You should always preview and test your JSON templates on different devices and browsers. Responsive design ensures your store looks great and functions smoothly on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
• Leverage Shopify’s default and apps: You can incorporate Shopify’s native sections and compatible app sections within your JSON templates to add functionality without custom coding. This streamlines development and ensures compatibility with updates.
• Regularly update and maintain: Store owners should always stay updated with Shopify’s latest theme development guidelines and JSON template features. These regular maintenance ensures your templates leverage new capabilities and remain secure.

Shopify JSON – FAQs

Conclusion

Shopify JSON is a powerful addition to the Shopify ecosystem, offering merchants and developers new ways to customize their stores efficiently and effectively. By understanding how to use Shopify JSON, store owners can build dynamic, scalable, and engaging online shopping experiences that stand out in today’s competitive market.

Take the next step in unlocking your store’s full potential – start experimenting with Shopify JSON templates today. With the right approach, you’ll build a more engaging and dynamic shopping experience that drives sales and grows your business.