What is Headless Shopify?

"Headless" Shopify refers to the approach of using the Shopify ecommerce platform as a backend for an ecommerce store, without using Shopify for the frontend.

Essentially, the frontend of a "headless" Shopify store is not served or hosted by Shopify, but is instead built using a modern Javascript-based frontend framework. Such frameworks include Hydrogen, Next.js, Remix, Astro, and Gatsby. You could also use Nuxt, Vue, Angular, Hugo, or plentiful others!

This development approach replaces the typical "theme-based" Shopify storefront with a custom-built storefront that runs on different technology, away from Shopify.

Traditionally, Shopify stores are skinned using "Liquid" templates, which allow for styling of Shopify’s native frontend. With headless, your store’s frontend is developed independently of Shopify (except that the storefront will communicate with Shopify via APIs), removing design constraints and other technical limitations associated with frontend or experience customization. Due to this increased flexibility, Headless Shopify stores are able to incorporate more advanced and nuanced functionality than their traditional counterparts, and this approach alleviate challenges associated with Shopify's standard templating restrictions.

Going headless tends to suit brands who require high levels of custom frontend flexibility, or otherwise feel constrained by Shopify's templating engine. Going headless can also be a good option for stores that require particularly nuanced functionality that is not easily achievable via existing Shopify apps or DIY integrations.

A headless build is not solely advantageous from a flexibility perspective, though. It can also help developers to achieve significantly improved site performance, particularly in contrast to a store that may currently be running a Liquid theme with heavy customizations and a combination of bloated plugins. The modern rendering techniques made available by modern Javascript frameworks largely contribute to the performance gains that can be achieved with headless.

Beyond performance, headless builds act as a gateway into the world of the Shopify APIs, which can be leveraged for much more than storefront development. The extension and augmenting of the Shopify platform through custom apps utilizing the same APIs involved in a headless build can help retailers make better use of the platform through custom integrations and omnichannel distribution.

What's the point of Shopify headless?

Going headless with Shopify allows allows brands to achieve more control over experience, user journey, and omnichannel content delivery, through a modern technology implementation that rivals a traditional cookie-cutter approach. Read more about Shopify vs Headless Shopify.

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