Shopify apps are powerful tools that provide additional or alternative functionality for Shopify stores. With these tools, you can implement a variety of features, such as targeting ads to customers, collecting reviews, customizing the purchase workflow, translating the store's content, replacing the default checkout, and much more!
There are thousands of apps in the Shopify App Store, both paid and free, designed to solve various problems. However, you may not find an app that meets your needs. In this case, you may consider creating your own Shopify application. This article provides you with all the necessary information to plan your next steps. After reading it, you will have the knowledge you need to proceed.
It might seem like Shopify apps are easy to make and don't require any real programming skills. But that's only partly true. Shopify apps can be simple to create, but they can also be complex software products. It all depends on the type of Shopify app you want to make.
Making a Shopify app takes time and resources, so it's best to use an existing app if you can. But if you're serious about building your own, we can help you through the process.
There is a difference between Shopify apps, themes, and app extensions.
Apps can also change the visuals of the store, but if you want to define how the store looks, you need a theme. In this article, we are focusing on apps, not themes.
The Shopify API (Application Programming Interface) allows apps to interact with Shopify stores by providing access to almost all their data and functionality.
Shopify API offers a set of actions (endpoints), such as retrieving a list of store customers through the Get Customers endpoint or updating customer information via the Update Customer endpoint.
Shopify API requires an access token, which is generated for a specific store once the app is installed.
Choose the API that best suits your needs.
Shopify apps can do almost any custom logic: changing or extending the store functionality for customers or admins, integrating the store with 3rd-party platforms, and so on. Regardless of its functionality, every Shopify app connects with one or more Shopify stores using Shopify API. These apps may or may not have a user interface.
There are two types of Shopify apps: embedded and standalone. Embedded apps are located in the Shopify admin dashboard, while standalone apps are hosted externally, such as on your website.
Another difference is that Embedded apps must use App Bridge technology for their user interface, and Standalone apps must not. You can read more about the difference between these app types here: Embedded vs Standalone Shopify Apps: Key Differences and How to Choose.
There are three types of Shopify apps, depending on the distribution model:
Take Note: With Shopify Plus, it is possible to install a custom app across multiple stores owned by a single Shopify Plus merchant.
You can set up a new Shopify app in three ways:
You can create a custom app with Shopify Partners, but your developers must do the setup to get the access token. When you make an app using the store's admin dashboard, the access token is automatically generated. We explain access tokens in the "App Installation Workflow" section.
Shopify apps require an access token to interact with a store via the Shopify API. The type of token depends on how the app was created and on their type.
The Shopify API (Application Programming Interface) allows apps to interact with Shopify stores by providing access to almost all their data and functionality.
Embedded apps are located in the Shopify admin dashboard, while standalone apps are hosted externally, such as on your website.
Another difference is that Embedded apps must use App Bridge technology for their user interface, and Standalone apps must not. You can read more about the difference between these app types here: Shopify app: Embedded vs Standalone.
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One of the biggest mistakes when starting a new software project is jumping into development too quickly. Before offering our services, we’ll sign an NDA and thoroughly research your business to make sure were a good fit for your challenges.