What is Shopify Metadata?
In Shopify, metadata (often referred to as metafields) and tags are both ways of adding extra information to products, orders, customers, and other parts of your store, but they serve different purposes and have distinct applications.
Shopify Metadata (Metafields)
Metadata in Shopify is used to store additional, custom data about an item. Each metafield is a pair of key-value data that allows you to define highly specific details, which can then be used to display custom content on your site or aid in backend processes. Metafields are often used to create information unique to a product or collection that is beyond the standard Shopify data fields.
- Examples of Metadata Use: You might use metadata to add a “Material” field for products (e.g., “Material: 100% organic cotton”), “Care Instructions,” or even “Shipping Information.”
- Visibility: Metadata is generally not visible to customers unless you display it explicitly on the front end (for example, in product descriptions or custom sections).
- Customisation: Metadata is highly flexible, allowing you to add almost any type of data you need. It’s particularly useful for storing information that doesn’t fit within Shopify’s built-in fields.
- Setup: You need access to Shopify’s admin tools or apps like Shopify Metafields to create and edit metafields.
Shopify Tags
Tags, on the other hand, are more general labels that help organise and group items within Shopify. They are a form of categorisation and work across products, orders, customers, and blog posts. Tags are simple text-based labels that Shopify uses for filtering, search, and sorting purposes.
- Examples of Tag Use: You might tag products with “Summer Collection,” “Sale,” or “Men’s Clothing.” These tags are commonly used to create filterable collections and make it easier for customers to find items.
- Visibility: Tags can influence search and filtering on your store’s front end, helping customers find products that belong to certain categories.
- Customisation: Tags are limited to simple words or phrases and aren’t suitable for storing complex data. You can apply multiple tags to a single item, but they lack the structure and flexibility that metafields provide.
- Setup: Tags can be added directly within the Shopify admin when editing products, orders, or customers.
Key Differences Between Metadata and Tags
- Purpose: Metafields are for storing custom data beyond standard fields, while tags are for simple categorisation and filtering.
- Data Complexity: Metafields allow for complex, structured data, while tags are basic text labels.
- Visibility and Use in Front End: Metafields need to be explicitly displayed, often requiring custom code, whereas tags are often used directly in filtering and search.
- Editing: Metafields require admin access or apps to create and edit, whereas tags can be added directly in the Shopify admin.
In short, if you need to store extra product information not covered by Shopify’s basic fields, you’d use metadata (metafields). If you want to make it easier to organise and filter items, you’d use tags. Both are useful but serve different roles in managing your Shopify store.