How to Show Metafields in Shopify

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. What Are Shopify Metafields?
3. Creating Metafields in Shopify
4. Adding Metafields to Products
5. Displaying Metafields on Your Online Store
6. Conclusion
7. FAQs

Introduction

Imagine you’re running an online store on Shopify and you want to enhance your product pages with specific details that aren't available in the default Shopify fields. Whether it’s displaying the origin of your coffee beans, custom manufacturing details, or size guidelines, metafields in Shopify allow you to add this valuable information effortlessly. This guide will walk you through how to show metafields in Shopify, ensuring your store is both informative and customer-friendly.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this article, you will understand:

• What Shopify metafields are
• Different types of metafields you can use
• How to create and manage metafields
• How to display these metafields on your product pages

Let’s dive in!

What Are Shopify Metafields?

Shopify metafields are customizable fields that enable you to store additional information about your products, collections, customers, orders, and other objects within your Shopify store. These fields are particularly useful when you need to manage data that doesn’t fit into Shopify’s standard fields.

Types of Metafields

Shopify supports various types of metafields, including:

• Text: Simple text strings.
• Number: Numerical values.
• Measurement: Units of measurement (e.g., length, width, height).
• Date and Time: Specific dates or times.
• JSON: Custom JSON objects for advanced configurations.

Metafields empower you to enhance your product listings with pertinent details, making your store more informative and user-centric.

Creating Metafields in Shopify

Before displaying metafields, you need to create them. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to set up metafields in your Shopify admin panel.

Step 1: Navigate to Custom Data

1. Go to your Shopify admin panel.
2. Click on Settings at the bottom left corner.
3. Click on Custom data to find the Metafields settings.

Step 2: Choose Your Metafield Type

1. Select the Metafields type you want to add (e.g., Products).

Step 3: Define Your Metafield

1. Click on Add Definition.
2. Fill in the following fields:
   • Name: A descriptive name for your metafield.
   • Namespace and Key: A unique identifier for your metafield.
   • Type: Choose the type of value the metafield will hold (e.g., text, date, number).
3. Add a Description (optional) to help understand what type of information should be added in this metafield.

Step 4: Save Your Metafield

1. Click Save to finalize your metafield definition.

You now have a metafield that you can associate with your products, collections, or other store elements.

Adding Metafields to Products

Method 1: Individually

1. Navigate to the Products section in your Shopify admin.
2. Select a product to which you want to add metafields.
3. Scroll down to the Metafields section at the bottom.
4. Fill in the metafield details and click Save.

Method 2: Bulk Editing

1. In the Products section, select multiple products.
2. Click on Bulk edit.
3. Use the Columns button to add your metafield columns.
4. Fill in the metafield values for all selected products and click Save.

Displaying Metafields on Your Online Store

There are two primary ways to display metafields on your product pages: using the Shopify theme editor or editing the theme code. We'll explore both methods.

Using the Shopify Theme Editor

This method is straightforward and doesn’t require coding knowledge.

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
2. Click Customize on your current theme.
3. Navigate to the product page where you want to add metafields.
4. Add a content block for the metafield:
   • Go to Template > Product Information.
   • Add a text block.
5. Click on the Add dynamic content button (usually looks like a cylinder or a stack of coins).
6. Select the metafield you want to display.
7. Save your changes.

Editing Theme Code

For more customization, you might need to edit the theme code. This requires some coding knowledge.

1. In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit Code.
2. Open the relevant Liquid file (e.g., product-template.liquid).
3. Where you want to display the metafield, add the following code:

<div class="additional-attributes">
  <table>
    <tbody>
      <tr><th>Height</th><td>{{ product.metafields.global.height }}</td></tr>
      <tr><th>Width</th><td>{{ product.metafields.global.width }}</td></tr>
      <tr><th>Depth</th><td>{{ product.metafields.global.depth }}</td></tr>
    </tbody>
  </table>
</div>

4. Save your changes.

Important Considerations

• Ensure you have created the metafields with the correct namespace and key.
• Test your metafield display on different products to ensure it works correctly across your store.

Conclusion

Shopify metafields are a powerful tool to customize and enrich your online store. By understanding how to create, manage, and display metafields, you can offer your customers a detailed and engaging shopping experience. Whether you use the theme editor or dive into theme code customization, metafields can significantly enhance your Shopify store's functionality and appeal.

FAQs

How do I use Shopify metafields?

Shopify metafields can be used to store and display additional information about your products, collections, customers, and other store elements. They are highly customizable and can store various data types such as text, numbers, measurements, and JSON objects.

How do metafields affect SEO?

Metafields can positively impact SEO as the data within them is crawled by search engines like Google. Including relevant keywords and detailed information in metafields can enhance your product pages' visibility in search engine results.

Can I bulk upload metafields in Shopify?

Yes, you can use the bulk editing feature in Shopify’s admin panel or third-party tools like Matrixify to bulk upload and manage metafields. This can be particularly useful when dealing with a large number of products.

What is the limit for Shopify metafields?

You can add up to 200 metafields per resource type (e.g., products, customers) in Shopify, offering great flexibility in customizing your store’s information.

What are the benefits of using Shopify metafields?

Using metafields allows you to provide detailed product information, improve customer experience, enhance page appearance, facilitate easy navigation, and boost SEO. They enable customization that goes beyond Shopify's standard fields, making your store more informative and user-friendly.

Take your Shopify store to the next level by leveraging the power of metafields. Happy selling!