Enhance Checkout Experience with Shopify's Checkout Extensibility

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Shopify Checkout Extensibility
3. The Need for Checkout Extensibility
4. Shopify Plus Merchants and Checkout Extensibility
5. Deprecation of checkout.liquid Functionality
6. Introduction to Checkout Extensibility
7. How to Modify the Checkout Page with Checkout Extensibility
8. App Knowledge and Development Required for Checkout Extensibility
9. Porting Existing Functionality to Checkout Extensibility
10. Learning More About Checkout Extensibility
11. Building a Checkout UI Extension with Gadget
12. Introducing Gadget - An eCommerce App Development Platform
13. The Benefits of Using Gadget for Shopify App Development
14. Building a Checkout UI Extension Using Gadget
15. The Checkout UI Extension - Adding a Review Display
16. Configuring the Shopify Admin App for Review Content
17. The Checkout Extension - Displaying the Review on the Checkout Page
18. Using Polaris for UI Components in the Admin App
19. Styling the Checkout UI Extension
20. Updating and Saving Review Details from the Admin App
21. Fetching and Populating Review Details in the Checkout UI Extension
22. Deploying and Publishing the Admin App and Checkout UI Extension
23. Adding the Checkout UI Extension to a Shopify Store
24. Customizing the Checkout Page with the Checkout UI Extension
25. Conclusion

Introduction

Recently, a significant topic in the Shopify space has been around checkout extensibility. Shopify Plus merchants have traditionally been able to modify their checkout page by editing the checkout.liquid file in their theme code. However, Shopify has deprecated this functionality and will completely stop supporting it next year. To replace it, they have introduced checkout extensibility, which requires app knowledge and development to modify the checkout page. This article will dive into the details of checkout extensibility and guide you through building a checkout UI extension using Gadget.

Shopify Checkout Extensibility

Checkout extensibility is a new functionality introduced by Shopify to allow merchants to modify their checkout page. It replaces the deprecated checkout.liquid file editing method used by Shopify Plus merchants. With checkout extensibility, merchants can still customize their checkout page, but it requires app development knowledge and skills. By using checkout extensibility, merchants can enhance their checkout experience and improve conversions.

The Need for Checkout Extensibility

The need for checkout extensibility arises from the changing requirements of Shopify Plus merchants. Previously, merchants could easily modify their checkout page by editing the checkout.liquid file. However, this method has been deprecated by Shopify, and merchants need a new solution to continue customizing their checkout page. Checkout extensibility provides merchants with the ability to modify their checkout page while keeping up with the latest changes in Shopify's platform.

Shopify Plus Merchants and Checkout Extensibility

Shopify Plus merchants are among the beneficiaries of the new checkout extensibility feature. As Shopify Plus merchants, they have higher customization needs and require more flexibility in modifying their checkout page. Checkout extensibility allows them to meet these requirements by providing a new way to make changes to their checkout page. However, it should be noted that checkout extensibility requires app knowledge and development skills, which may be a barrier for some merchants.

Deprecation of checkout.liquid Functionality

Shopify has deprecated the functionality of editing the checkout.liquid file in the theme code. This means that merchants will no longer be able to modify their checkout page by directly editing this file. Shopify has decided to deprecate this functionality to provide a more secure and scalable checkout experience. However, for merchants who require customization of their checkout page, Shopify has introduced checkout extensibility as an alternative solution.

Introduction to Checkout Extensibility

Checkout extensibility is a new feature introduced by Shopify that allows merchants to modify their checkout page. With checkout extensibility, merchants can add custom functionality and design to their checkout page, enhancing the overall user experience. This feature requires app knowledge and development skills, as merchants will need to create and implement app code to make changes to their checkout page. The introduction of checkout extensibility provides merchants with greater flexibility and control over their checkout process.

How to Modify the Checkout Page with Checkout Extensibility

To modify the checkout page using checkout extensibility, merchants will need to leverage their app knowledge and development skills. They will need to create an app that interacts with Shopify's checkout API to make the desired changes. This involves understanding the Shopify API, creating the necessary API calls, and implementing the desired modifications to the checkout page. By following the guidelines and documentation provided by Shopify, merchants can successfully modify their checkout page using checkout extensibility.

App Knowledge and Development Required for Checkout Extensibility

Checkout extensibility requires app knowledge and development skills. Merchants or app developers who want to modify the checkout page using checkout extensibility should be familiar with Shopify's API and have the ability to create and deploy apps on the Shopify platform. This includes knowledge of web development technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, as well as experience with Shopify's API and app development frameworks. With the right skills and knowledge, merchants can effectively utilize checkout extensibility to modify their checkout page.

Porting Existing Functionality to Checkout Extensibility

If you are a Shopify Plus merchant needing to port over existing functionality to checkout extensibility, you will need to modify your app code accordingly. This may involve rewriting certain parts of your codebase or adapting your app to work with the new checkout extensibility API. It is important to carefully review the documentation provided by Shopify and understand the changes required to migrate your existing functionality to checkout extensibility. By following best practices and thorough testing, you can successfully port your existing functionality to checkout extensibility.

Learning More About Checkout Extensibility

For app developers interested in learning more about checkout extensibility, Shopify provides comprehensive documentation and resources. The Shopify developers portal offers guides, tutorials, and reference materials to help developers understand the concepts and implementation details of checkout extensibility. By diving into these resources and experimenting with sample code, developers can gain a deeper understanding of how checkout extensibility works and how to leverage it to create custom checkout experiences.

Building a Checkout UI Extension with Gadget

To build a checkout UI extension with Gadget, an eCommerce app development platform, you can leverage the functionality provided by Gadget to simplify the development process. Gadget handles many aspects of back-end and server setup and management, allowing developers to focus on coding. By using Gadget, developers can significantly reduce the time and effort required to build a checkout UI extension. In this article, we will guide you through building a checkout UI extension using Gadget.

Introducing Gadget - An eCommerce App Development Platform

Gadget is an eCommerce app development platform that simplifies the process of building Shopify apps. It provides tools and frameworks that streamline app development and deployment. With Gadget, developers can focus on writing code and building features, while Gadget takes care of the infrastructure and server setup. By utilizing Gadget, developers can create high-quality Shopify apps quickly and efficiently.

The Benefits of Using Gadget for Shopify App Development

Using Gadget for Shopify app development offers several advantages. Firstly, Gadget simplifies the development process by providing pre-configured server infrastructure and deployment workflows. This eliminates the need for developers to spend time setting up servers and managing infrastructure. Secondly, Gadget provides a robust set of APIs and SDKs that enable seamless integration with Shopify's platform. This allows developers to build apps that leverage Shopify's features and capabilities. Lastly, Gadget offers comprehensive documentation and support, making it easy for developers to get started and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Building a Checkout UI Extension Using Gadget

To build a checkout UI extension with Gadget, you will need to follow a step-by-step process. This includes setting up an app in the Shopify Partner Dashboard, creating the necessary data models and routes, implementing the desired functionality using Gadget's APIs and SDKs, and testing the extension to ensure it works as expected. Throughout the development process, you can leverage Gadget's documentation and support resources to help you overcome any challenges you may encounter. By following best practices and leveraging Gadget's capabilities, you can successfully build a checkout UI extension using Gadget.

The Checkout UI Extension - Adding a Review Display

In our example app, we will be building a checkout UI extension that allows merchants to display a simple review on the checkout page. This review will provide social proof and help increase conversions. To implement this functionality, we will use Gadget to create an app that allows merchants to configure the review content, such as customer name and review text. We will then use the checkout UI extension to render this review on the actual checkout page. By following the steps outlined in this article, you will be able to build a similar checkout UI extension with ease.

Configuring the Shopify Admin App for Review Content

To configure the Shopify admin app for review content, we will use Gadget to create an app that allows merchants to specify the customer name and review text for the review display. This configuration will be stored in a meta field associated with the shop. By utilizing Gadget's data model capabilities, we can easily handle the storage and retrieval of this configuration data. With Gadget, merchants can have a user-friendly interface to update the review content dynamically.

The Checkout Extension - Displaying the Review on the Checkout Page

With the Shopify admin app configured, we can now focus on the checkout extension itself, which will display the review on the checkout page. By leveraging Gadget's checkout UI extension functionality, we can seamlessly integrate our app code into the checkout page. This allows the app to render the review dynamically based on the configuration set by the merchant. By following the guidelines provided by Shopify and utilizing Gadget's capabilities, we can create a checkout extension that enhances the checkout experience and increases conversions.

Using Polaris for UI Components in the Admin App

To ensure a consistent and visually appealing user interface in the admin app, we will utilize Polaris, Shopify's design and component library. Polaris provides standardized components that maintain a consistent look and feel across the admin interface. By using Polaris components, we can easily create a clean and intuitive user interface for the app, enhancing the user experience for merchants. With Polaris, we can quickly implement UI components such as cards, forms, and text fields, reducing development time and effort.

Styling the Checkout UI Extension

Styling the checkout UI extension involves applying CSS to the rendered components to achieve the desired visual appearance. By leveraging CSS frameworks or custom CSS styles, developers can customize the appearance of the extension to match the merchant's branding and design preferences. Additionally, Gadget provides built-in styling options that can be easily applied to the checkout UI extension components, streamlining the styling process. By carefully considering the aesthetics and usability of the extension, developers can create a visually appealing and user-friendly checkout experience.

Updating and Saving Review Details from the Admin App

To ensure a seamless experience for merchants, it is important to implement functionality that allows them to update and save review details directly from the admin app. By using Gadget's API capabilities, we can create a route that handles the saving of review details to the meta field associated with the shop. Merchants can input the customer name and review text in the admin app, and upon saving, the data will be stored in the meta field. By following proper data handling practices and leveraging Gadget's API functionality, we can ensure that review details are accurately saved and updated.

Fetching and Populating Review Details in the Checkout UI Extension

To provide a dynamic and personalized experience for customers, it is essential to fetch and populate review details in the checkout UI extension. By using Gadget's hooks and APIs, we can fetch the review details from the meta field associated with the shop. This allows us to display the most up-to-date review content to customers during the checkout process. By leveraging Gadget's data retrieval and manipulation capabilities, we can ensure that the review details are accurately fetched and populated in the checkout UI extension.

Deploying and Publishing the Admin App and Checkout UI Extension

Once the admin app and checkout UI extension are built and tested, the next step is to deploy and publish them. By using Gadget's deployment capabilities, we can easily deploy the admin app and checkout UI extension to Shopify. This allows merchants to install and use the app and extension on their stores. Additionally, by following Shopify's guidelines, we can publish the app and extension, making them available to a wider audience. By leveraging Gadget's deployment and publication workflows, we can ensure a smooth and seamless deployment process.

Adding the Checkout UI Extension to a Shopify Store

To install and add the checkout UI extension to a Shopify store, merchants can access the app from the Shopify admin. By navigating to the Extensions section and searching for the app, merchants can install and configure the checkout UI extension. Once installed, they can customize the placement and appearance of the extension in the checkout. By following the provided guidelines and utilizing Gadget's extension development features, merchants can easily incorporate the checkout UI extension into their Shopify store.

Customizing the Checkout Page with the Checkout UI Extension

The checkout UI extension provides merchants with the ability to customize the checkout page to align with their branding and design preferences. By leveraging Gadget's UI components and customization options, merchants can easily modify the appearance and placement of the extension. This allows them to create a cohesive and tailored checkout experience for their customers. By following best practices and leveraging Gadget's customization features, merchants can create a unique and engaging checkout page.

Conclusion

In conclusion, checkout extensibility is an important topic in the Shopify space, especially for Shopify Plus merchants. With the deprecation of the checkout.liquid functionality, merchants are turning to checkout extensibility to modify their checkout page. By leveraging Gadget, an eCommerce app development platform, developers can create powerful and customized checkout UI extensions. This article provided a step-by-step guide to building a checkout UI extension using Gadget, from setting up the app to deploying and publishing it. By following these guidelines and leveraging Gadget's capabilities, developers and merchants can enhance the checkout experience and drive conversions.