Can we use our own URL structures with Headless Shopify?

Yes, absolutely – with Headless Shopify, you can use your own URL structures, and are no longer bound by Shopify's pre-set URL paths or slug formatting.

One of Shopify's (current) limitations is that it forces upon site owners an inflexible, predefined URL structure that cannot be changed. Whilst you're able to modify the portion of the URL that pertains to the individual products or slug (ie. you can change the 'skateboard' portion of a URL path such as /products/skateboard or /pages/skateboard), you can't currently obtain full customization of the entire slug.

This is an unfortunate limitation of Shopify. However, it doesn't impact headless Shopify builds, because you're able to implement your own URL structure – however that looks.

In a headless build, URL paths or slug formatting can be created or generated in whatever way makes most sense for the storefront and its marketing objectives.

This flexibility is beneficial from an SEO and shareability standpoint, but perhaps more importantly for complex content structures that Shopify's core offering doesn't quite meet. For instance, a complex knowledge base, on-site product guides, or content silos may benefit from their own specific URL pattern – something a headless Shopify build will have no problem catering for in terms of sensible URL structure.