How do you add custom functionality to a Shopify store?

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Adding custom functionality to a Shopify store can be done in a few different ways depending on what you need to achieve. Here’s a breakdown of the main approaches:

1. Use Shopify Apps

Best for: Common features like subscriptions, reviews, upsells, etc.

  • Go to the Shopify App Store

  • Install an app that fits your needs (free and paid options available)

  • Most apps have setup instructions and support

Examples:

  • Klaviyo for email marketing

  • Yotpo for reviews

  • Recharge for subscriptions

2. Modify the Shopify Theme

Best for: Small UI changes, custom sections, styling, or behavior

a. Online Code Editor

  • Go to Online Store > Themes > Actions > Edit code

  • Modify files like:

    • theme.liquid – overall layout

    • product.liquid, collection.liquid, etc. – page templates

    • assets/custom.js, assets/custom.css – scripts and styles

b. Sections & Snippets

  • Create new Liquid files in /sections or /snippets for reusable content

  • Warning: Always backup your theme or work in a duplicate theme before editing!

3. Use Shopify Scripts (Shopify Plus only)

Best for: Custom discount logic, cart rules, shipping/payment changes

  • Written in Ruby

  • Found under Shopify Admin > Script Editor

4. Use Shopify Functions

Best for: Extending backend logic like checkout and discounts (newer alternative to Scripts)

  • Written in Rust and deployed via custom apps

  • Highly performant and secure

  • Requires CLI setup and development experience

5. Build a Custom Shopify App

Best for: Fully custom functionality, external API integration, admin tools

  • Use Shopify’s CLI

  • Tech stack: Node.js or Ruby backend, Polaris for UI, Shopify APIs

  • Can be public, custom, or private apps

6. Use Shopify APIs

Best for: Integrating with external systems or building headless storefronts

  • Storefront API – for custom frontends

  • Admin API – manage products, orders, customers

  • Checkout API – for custom checkout experiences (Shopify Plus)

Example: Adding a Custom Script for a Discount Banner

liquid
{% if cart.total_price > 5000 %}
<div class="banner">You've unlocked a 10% discount!</div>
{% endif %}

This would go in your theme.liquid or a cart template file.

What are Liquid templates, and how are they used in Shopify?

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Liquid templates are the backbone of theming in Shopify, a popular e-commerce platform. Here’s a clear breakdown of what they are and how they’re used:

What is Liquid?

Liquid is an open-source template language created by Shopify. It’s designed to load dynamic content on web pages in a safe and readable way.

Think of it as the glue between HTML and your Shopify store’s dynamic data (like product names, prices, collections, etc.).

How Liquid Works in Shopify

In Shopify, your store’s theme is made up of template files written in a mix of:

  • HTML: For structure

  • CSS/JS: For styling and interactivity

  • Liquid: For inserting dynamic content

Key Features of Liquid

  • Objects: Pull data from your Shopify store. Example:

    liquid
    {{ product.title }}

  • Tags: Logic and flow control (if/else, for loops, etc.).

    liquid
    {% if product.available %}
    In stock!
    {% endif %}

  • Filters: Modify output. Example:

    liquid
    {{ product.price | money }}

Where Liquid is Used in Shopify

  1. Theme Templates: Pages like product.liquid, collection.liquid, cart.liquid, etc.

  2. Snippets: Reusable components (product-card.liquid).

  3. Sections: Modular and editable blocks (featured-products.liquid).

  4. Email templates: For order confirmation, shipping updates, etc.

 Example Use Case

Here’s a snippet of a product.liquid template:

liquid

<h1>{{ product.title }}</h1>

<p>{{ product.description }}</p>

{% if product.available %}
<button>Add to Cart</button>
{% else %}
<span>Sold Out</span>
{% endif %}

Why It Matters

  • Allows customization of Shopify storefronts.

  • Provides access to store data (like products, customers, orders).

  • Enables developers and merchants to create dynamic, personalized experiences.

How can you customize a Shopify theme?

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Customizing a Shopify theme can range from simple tweaks using the built-in theme editor to advanced modifications using code. Here’s a breakdown of the ways you can customize a Shopify theme:

1. Use the Shopify Theme Editor (No Code)

Great for quick changes like colors, fonts, layout, and content.

  • Go to Online Store > Themes in your Shopify admin.

  • Click “Customize” on your current theme.

  • Use the drag-and-drop editor to adjust:

    • Colors, typography, logos

    • Homepage sections

    • Header and footer

    • Product and collection pages

 Tip: Each section on the left side of the editor corresponds to a specific area of the site. You can also preview on desktop/mobile.

2. Use Shopify’s Theme Settings

These are specific to the theme you’re using. You’ll find settings for:

  • Layout (e.g., grid vs list views)

  • Product image zoom

  • Quick view options

  • Social media links

  • Newsletter popups

3. Edit Theme Code (Advanced Customization)

For full control over how your site looks and behaves.

  • Go to Online Store > Themes, then click Actions > Edit code.

  • You’ll be working with:

    • Liquid (Shopify’s templating language)

    • HTML/CSS

    • JavaScript

Common files to edit:

  • theme.liquid – overall layout

  • product.liquid or product.json – product pages

  • collection.liquid – collection pages

  • custom.css or theme.css.liquid – styles

 Tip: Duplicate your theme before editing code as a backup!

4. Use Custom Sections and Blocks (Online Store 2.0)

Shopify’s newer themes (OS 2.0) allow you to create reusable sections across your site.

  • You can now add sections to any page (not just the homepage).

  • Custom blocks can be dragged and reordered.

  • You can create your own section templates in code using .liquid files.

5. Use Apps for Additional Customizations

Shopify apps can add new features or design capabilities like:

  • Product reviews

  • Image sliders

  • Custom fonts

  • Mega menus

  • Page builders (e.g., Shogun, PageFly)

6. Hire a Developer (if needed)

If you want deeply custom features or don’t feel comfortable editing code, hiring a Shopify expert can be a good move.

Can you explain the structure of a typical Shopify theme?

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bsolutely! A typical Shopify theme is made up of a specific file structure that organizes all the code and assets needed to define how a Shopify store looks and behaves. Here’s a breakdown of the main parts of a Shopify theme:

Root Theme Structure

plaintext
.
├── assets/
├── config/
├── layout/
├── locales/
├── sections/
├── snippets/
├── templates/
├── customers/
├── checkout/ (Shopify Plus only)
├── theme.liquid
└── config/settings_schema.json

Key Folders & Files

1. assets/

  • Contains images, JavaScript, CSS (or SCSS), and other static files.

  • These are accessible via URLs and often referenced in templates and sections.

  • Example files: theme.css, theme.js, logo.png

2. config/

  • Holds theme settings and customizations.

  • Main files:

    • settings_schema.json: Defines the settings available in the theme editor (e.g., colors, fonts).

    • settings_data.json: Stores actual settings values saved by the merchant (auto-generated).

3. layout/

  • Contains layout templates that wrap around your content.

  • Most important file:

    • theme.liquid: The main layout file loaded on every page.

4. locales/

  • Contains translations for multilingual stores.

  • Files are in JSON format.

  • Example: en.default.json, fr.json

5. sections/

  • Reusable and customizable page components (especially in Online Store 2.0).

  • Merchants can add/move sections via the theme editor.

  • Example: hero.liquid, featured-products.liquid

6. snippets/

  • Small, reusable chunks of Liquid code.

  • Often used inside sections and templates.

  • Example: product-card.liquid, price.liquid

7. templates/

  • Define the layout for different types of pages (product, collection, etc.).

  • Example files:

    • index.liquid → homepage

    • product.liquid → product pages

    • collection.liquid, cart.liquid

8. customers/

  • Templates specific to customer account pages.

  • Example: login.liquid, register.liquid, account.liquid

9. checkout/ (Shopify Plus only)

  • Customizable files for the checkout experience (limited access).

Important File: theme.liquid

This is the base layout. Think of it like the HTML skeleton that includes the <head>, site-wide headers/footers, and the {% content_for_layout %} tag that loads the specific page’s content.

Shopify’s Templating Language: Liquid

All .liquid files use Liquid, Shopify’s templating language. It allows you to embed dynamic content using tags like:

liquid
{{ product.title }}
{% if product.available %}In Stock{% endif %}

If you’re working on a Shopify theme, tools like Shopify CLI and the Dawn theme (Shopify’s reference theme) are very helpful.

What is Shopify & why is it popular for e-commerce development?

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Shopify is a leading e-commerce platform that allows individuals and businesses to create their own online stores to sell products or services. It’s cloud-based and designed to be user-friendly, making it accessible to both tech-savvy users and those without coding experience.

Why is Shopify Popular for E-Commerce Development?

1. Ease of Use

  • No coding needed for basic setup.

  • Intuitive dashboard for managing products, orders, payments, and shipping.

  • Drag-and-drop store builder for design customization.

2. All-in-One Solution

  • Hosting, domain registration, SSL, payment gateways, and analytics all in one place.

  • Handles both front-end (storefront) and back-end (admin) operations.

3. Scalability

  • Works well for startups, small businesses, and even enterprise-level brands.

  • Shopify Plus is designed for high-volume merchants.

4. App Ecosystem

  • Thousands of apps and integrations in the Shopify App Store to extend functionality (e.g., marketing tools, inventory management, reviews).

  • Easy to add features without heavy development work.

5. Mobile Responsiveness

  • Themes are mobile-friendly out of the box.

  • Includes a mobile app to manage your store on the go.

6. Security & Reliability

  • PCI-compliant for secure payment processing.

  • 24/7 support and 99.99% uptime.

7. SEO & Marketing Tools

  • Built-in SEO features and support for blogging.

  • Easy integration with Google, Facebook, Instagram, and email marketing tools.

8. Design Flexibility

  • Large variety of professionally designed themes (free and paid).

  • Full access to HTML/CSS for developers who want custom design and functionality.

 Popular Brands Using Shopify:

  • Allbirds

  • Gymshark

  • Heinz

  • Kylie Cosmetics

  • Brooklinen

In WordPress, how can we change the table prefix ( wp_ )?

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You can change and rename the WordPress database prefix in several ways.

Change the table prefix in wp-config.php

Go to the WordPress root directory and open the wp-config.php file. Change the prefix of the table “wp_” to whatever you wish, for example, “wp_vhgfd”. Therefore, the line would look as follows:

$table_prefix  = ‘wp_vhgfd’;

Change the table prefix in the database

  • In PhpMyAdmin, open the database.
  • Select all tables that begin with the wp_ prefix.
  • Click With selected to display a drop-down menu. Select Replace table prefix from the list.
  • In the From-field, enter wp_. In the To-field, type the new name.
  • Then click Continue to make the changes.

How many tables are there by default in WordPress?

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In WordPress databases, the shelves are called tables. By default, WordPress websites contain 12 tables. Only certain data can be stored in each table. WordPress comments tables, for example, contain information regarding IP addresses, comment author slugs, etc., of people who have commented on a post. In this way, data can be stored and retrieved more quickly.

What is required to run WordPress?

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  •     What is required to run WordPress

WordPress has the following minimal requirements:

  • PHP version 7.2 or higher.
  • A MySQL version of 5.6 or higher OR a MariaDB version of 10.0 or higher.
  • Support for HTTP.
  • The best servers for running WordPress are Nginx or Apache, but any server that supports MySQL and PHP will work.

Why do you think WordPress uses MySQL?

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The below mentioned are few of the reasons why to use MySQL with WordPress:

  • It is an Open source
  • It is also Extremely fast
  • It is a widely available database server
  • It also supported by low-cost Linux hosting