Getting started

Also in this section

• Making your first request
• Authentication
• Response status codes
• Understanding API rate limits
• Using webhooks
• Search syntax
• Shopify and GraphQL

Shopify enables you to create powerful ecommerce solutions for a variety of scenarios, including integrating your service into the Shopify admin, customizing any website, and more. Get familiar with Shopify's developer products below.

Note

If you need help using Shopify's APIs, then the best place to start is the Shopify APIs & SDKs forum. Shopify's Support team isn't able to answer questions about Shopify's APIs.

Build an app

Build apps for more than 800,000 Shopify merchants. See our Shopify apps Getting Started guide to get up-and-running quickly and make your first calls to the API. See our tutorial Build a Shopify app with Node and React to set up an embedded app using Shopify’s preferred technology stack.

Note

The Shopify API License and Terms of Use governs your access to and use of the Shopify API. Make sure you're familiar with these terms before you create an app.

Types of Shopify apps

Shopify’s APIs let developers integrate with the platform in a variety of ways. Depending on the purpose of your app, you’ll first need to choose whether it will be public or private. Public apps are meant for developers who want to distribute their apps to many merchants. Private apps are meant for developers building an app for a single merchant or a small group of clients. There are several important differences between the two types:

Public apps

• Can be installed on multiple Shopify stores
• Can apply to be listed in the Shopify App Store (this is optional, and requires approval)
• Manage authentication with OAuth 2.0
• Are created in the Partner Dashboard
• Can use Shopify App Bridge to appear as an embedded app in the Shopify admin
• Can use app extensions to extend the Shopify admin UI
• Must sync certain customer data with Shopify, as explained in the API Terms of Use

Private apps

• Are created for a single Shopify store, or for a small group of clients
• Can’t be listed in the Shopify App Store
• Manage authentication with basic HTTP authentication
• Are created in the Shopify admin

Build embedded apps

You can use app extensions and embedded app libraries to extend the reach of your app and create seamless user experiences for merchants in Shopify.

Embedded App SDK

Embed your app directly inside of the Shopify admin.

POS SDK

Embed your web apps directly inside of Shopify POS.

Build custom storefronts

The Shopify API supports custom storefronts that let merchants sell anywhere, even outside of Shopify.

Build an ecommerce storefront into any website with complete control over the interface and behavior using our JavaScript Buy SDK. You can also use the iOS or Android Buy SDK to embed a Shopify store's products and checkout into your mobile apps. You get access to native mobile GUI elements powered by Shopify's commerce tools.

When working with custom storefronts, you can also make your apps available from the Shopify App Store to potentially meet the needs of many merchants. For example, you could combine Storefront and Admin API functionality to build apps that work in the Shopify admin and also deliver customized purchasing experiences.

JS Buy SDK

Build commerce into any website.

Mobile Buy SDK

Integrate Shopify checkout into your mobile application.

Our APIs

Build apps using our APIs, available in both REST and GraphQL versions.

• REST Admin API
• GraphQL Admin API
• Storefront API

Where to get help

Shopify Community forums

Visit our forums to connect with the community and find out more about the Shopify API and App development.

Shopify APIs & SDKs forum

Developing apps with the Shopify API? This is the place to talk to your peers.