Adding standard metafield definitions

Standard definitions are automatically configured for you, and are designed to be universally compatible across Shopify. Because standard metafield definitions follow standards that are used across all Shopify stores, they're supported by apps, themes, and other parts of your store. Some examples of standard definitions include product rating, time and date, and related products.

Early access

A new Shopify product taxonomy and category metafields are in early access and only available to certain merchants. If you're interested in using the features on your Shopify store, then you can request access by visiting the Winter '24 Edition, and then click SIGN UP in the Rich attributes for each product category section. If your store is selected, then you will receive an email from the early access team.

Standard metafields and metaobjects power Shopify's product taxonomy and category metafields. Category metafields are added when the product category is added to the product. For example, if you add the product category Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Shirts & Tops, then you can add category metafields for clothing size, neckline, sleeve length type, length type, age group, material, and color. You can edit your metaobject entries in Content > Metaobjects.

Whenever possible, use a standard definition for your metafields. For more information, refer to Shopify standard metafields.

Add a standard definition

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Custom data.
2. Select the part of your store that you want to add a metafield to. For example, Products.
3. Click Add definition.
4. In the Name field, search for the standard definition that you want to use. For example, product rating or care guide. For more information, refer to Shopify standard metafields.
5. Review the details of the standard definition.
6. Optional: If the standard definition doesn't match your metafield, then click Change, and then select a different definition.
7. Optional: To prevent custom storefronts from displaying values for this metafield, deselect Storefronts.
8. Optional: To allow for this definition to display for automated collections, select Automated collections. This option is only available for product and variant metafields.
9. Optional: To unpin the metafield so that the corresponding pages in your Shopify admin doesn't automatically display the metafield, click Definition pinned.
10. Click Save.

Note

If no standard definition matches the name that you enter, then you can create a custom definition.

Next steps after adding metafield definitions

After you add definitions for your metafields, you can complete the following actions:

• Pin or unpin metafield definitions to determine the order in which your metafields are displayed.
• Add values to metafields for parts of your store.
• Connect your metafields to your theme to display them on your online store.

Using standard metafields with the Storefront API

If you want to allow custom storefronts to display your metafields, then you can give access to the Storefront API when you create or edit a metafield definition. If you sell your Shopify products through a non-Shopify website, video game, or other custom shopping experience, then you might want to give access to the Storefront API.

By default, values for standard metafields are accessible to custom storefronts. Learn more about using metafields with the Storefront API.