Input settings

Input settings can hold a value and are configurable by merchants.

Input settings are generally composed of standard attributes, and there are two categories:

• Basic input settings
• Specialized input settings

To learn how to access the values of these settings for use in your theme, refer to the settings overview.

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Anchor to Standard attributesStandard attributes

The following are standard attributes across input settings. However, depending on the input type, there might be extra attributes or some might not apply:

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Anchor to Basic input settingsBasic input settings

The following are the basic input setting types:

• checkbox
• number
• radio
• range
• select
• text
• textarea

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Anchor to checkboxcheckbox

A setting of type checkbox outputs a checkbox field. This setting type can be used for toggling features on and off, such as whether to show an announcement bar.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a checkbox type setting, data is returned as a boolean.

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Anchor to numbernumber

A setting of type number outputs a single number field. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, number type settings have the following attribute:

You can use this setting type to capture a varying numerical value, such as the number of products to show per page on a collection page.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a number type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A number.
• nil, if nothing has been entered.

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Anchor to radioradio

A setting of type radio outputs a radio option field. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, radio type settings have a required options attribute that accepts an array of value and label definitions.

You can use this setting type to capture a multi-option selection, such as the alignment of a header logo.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a radio type setting, data is returned as a string.

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Anchor to rangerange

A setting of type range outputs a range slider field with an input field. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, range type settings have the following attributes:

You can use this setting type to capture a varying numerical value, such as font size.

You can update the range value using the provided slider, or by typing a value into the input field:

• If you enter a value that doesn't respect the step definition, then the value rounds to the closest step.
• If you enter a value outside of the given min and max, then the value reverts to the min or max value accordingly.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a range type setting, data is returned as a number.

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Anchor to selectselect

A setting of type select outputs different selector fields, depending on certain criteria. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, select type settings have the following attributes:

Anchor to Selector fieldsSelector fields

The following criteria render selector fields as either a DropDown or a SegmentedControl:

You can use this setting type to capture a multi-option selection, such as the vertical alignment of slideshow text.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

However, if your setting matches the criteria for a drop-down field (DropDown) because it has more than five options, then the following output is generated:

When accessing the value of a select type setting, data is returned as a string.

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Anchor to texttext

A setting of type text outputs a single-line text field. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, text type settings have the following attribute:

You can use this setting type to capture short strings, such as titles.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a text type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string.
• An empty object, if nothing has been entered.

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Anchor to textareatextarea

A setting of type textarea outputs a multi-line text field. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, textarea type settings have the following attribute:

You can use this setting type to capture larger blocks of text, such as messages.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a textarea type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string.
• An empty object, if nothing has been entered.

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Anchor to Specialized input settingsSpecialized input settings

The following are the specialized input setting types:

• article
• blog
• collection
• collection_list
• color
• color_background
• color_scheme
• color_scheme_group
• font_picker
• html
• image_picker
• inline_richtext
• link_list
• liquid
• metaobject
• metaobject_list
• page
• product
• product_list
• richtext
• text_alignment
• url
• video
• video_url

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Anchor to articlearticle

A setting of type article outputs an article picker field that's automatically populated with the available articles for the store. You can use this setting type to capture an article selection, such as the article to feature on the homepage.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of an article type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• An article object.

To ensure backwards compatibility with legacy resource-based settings, outputting the setting directly will return the object's handle.

• blank if no selection has been made, the selection isn't visible, or the selection no longer exists

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Anchor to blogblog

A setting of type blog outputs a blog picker field that's automatically populated with the available blogs for the store. You can use this setting type to capture a blog selection, such as the blog to feature in the sidebar.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a blog type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A blog object.

To ensure backwards compatibility with legacy resource-based settings, outputting the setting directly will return the object's handle.

• blank, if either no selection has been made or the selection no longer exists.

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Anchor to collectioncollection

A setting of type collection outputs a collection picker field that's automatically populated with the available collections for the store. You can use this setting type to capture a collection selection, such as a collection for featuring products on the homepage.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a collection type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A collection object.

To ensure backwards compatibility with legacy resource-based settings, outputting the setting directly will return the object's handle.

• blank, if no selection has been made, the selection isn't visible, or the selection no longer exists.

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Anchor to collection_listcollection_list

A setting of type collection_list outputs a collection picker field that's automatically populated with the available collections for the store. You can use this setting type to capture multiple collections, such as a group of collections to feature on the homepage.

In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, collection_list type settings have the following attributes:

When accessing the value of a collection_list type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• An array of collection objects

The array supports pagination using the paginate tag. You can also append .count to the setting key to return the number of products in the array.

• blank if no selection has been made, the selection isn't visible, or the selection no longer exists

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Anchor to colorcolor

A setting of type color outputs a color picker field. You can use this setting type to capture a color selection for various theme elements, such as the body text color.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a color type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A color object.
• blank, if no selection has been made.

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Anchor to color_backgroundcolor_background

A setting of type color_background outputs a text field for entering CSS background properties. You can use this setting type to capture background settings for various theme elements, such as the store background.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a color_background type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string.
• An empty string, if nothing has been entered.

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Anchor to color_schemecolor_scheme

A setting of type color_scheme outputs a picker with all of the available theme color schemes, and a preview of the selected color scheme. Theme color schemes in the picker are defined using the color_scheme_group setting. You can apply a color scheme to sections, blocks and general theme settings. Color scheme settings aren't supported in app blocks.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a color_scheme type setting, Shopify returns the selected color_scheme object from color_scheme_group.

If no value was entered, or the value was invalid, then the default value from color_scheme is returned. If the default value is also invalid, then the first color_scheme from color_scheme_group is returned.

If the theme doesn't have color_scheme_group data in settings_data.json, then nil is returned.

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Anchor to color_scheme_groupcolor_scheme_group

A setting of type color_scheme_group outputs a color scheme which is composed of the following input setting types:

• header

• color

• color_background

  Color schemes can be added only in settings_schema.json.

  For example, the following setting generates the following output:

Anchor to rolerole

The role field outputs a color scheme preview. The color scheme previews are visible to merchants anywhere in the editor where they might pick a color scheme. You can assign roles to your color scheme definitions to map the color scheme to the previews. For example you can assign role.background to the Background definition. Role uses the following standardized mapping of the color_scheme_group definition to the color scheme preview:

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Anchor to font_pickerfont_picker

A setting of type font_picker outputs a font picker field that's automatically populated with fonts from the Shopify font library. This library includes system fonts and a selection of Google Fonts.

You can use this setting type to capture a font selection for various theme elements, such as the base heading font.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a font_picker type setting, data is returned as a font object.

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Anchor to htmlhtml

A setting of type html outputs a multi-line text field that accepts HTML markup. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, html type settings have the following attribute:

You can use this setting type to capture custom blocks of HTML content, such as a video embed.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

The following HTML tags will be automatically removed:

• <html>
• <head>
• <body>

When accessing the value of an html type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string that contains the entered content.
• An empty object, if nothing has been entered.

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Anchor to image_pickerimage_picker

A setting of type image_picker outputs an image picker field that's automatically populated with the available images from the Files section of Shopify admin, and has the option to upload new images. Merchants also have an opportunity to enter alt text and select a focal point for their image.

You can use this setting type to capture an image selection, such as logos, favicons, and slideshow images.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of an image_picker type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• An image object.
• nil, if either no selection has been made or the selection no longer exists.

Anchor to Image focal pointsImage focal points

Images selected using an image_picker setting support focal points. A focal point is a position in an image that the merchant wants to remain in view as the image is cropped and adjusted by the theme. Focal points can be set in the theme editor image_picker setting, or from the Files page.

To make sure that your theme respects the focal point of the image, do the following:

• Render your images using the image_tag filter.
• Consider positioning images within containers using object-fit: cover.

Using image_tag, if a focal point was provided, then an object-position style is added to the image tag, with the value set to the focal point.

If you need override the object-position style for a specific use case, then pass a style: object-position: inherit; property to the image_tag filter.

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Anchor to inline_richtextinline_richtext

A setting of type inline_richtext outputs HTML markup that isn't wrapped in paragraph tags (<p>). The setting includes the following basic formatting options:

• Bold
• Italic
• Link

You can use this setting type to capture formatted text content, such as introductory brand content on the homepage.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a inline_richtext type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string that contains the entered content.
• An empty object, if nothing has been entered.

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Anchor to link_listlink_list

A setting of type link_list outputs a menu picker field that's automatically populated with the available menus for the store. You can use this setting type to capture a menu selection, such as the menu to use for footer links.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a link_list type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A linklist object.
• blank, if either no selection has been made or the selection no longer exists.

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Anchor to liquidliquid

A setting of type liquid outputs a multi-line text field that accepts HTML and limited Liquid markup. You can use this setting type to capture custom blocks of HTML and Liquid content, such as a product-specific message. Merchants can also use a liquid setting to add the code needed to integrate certain types of apps into your theme.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a liquid type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string that contains the entered content.
• An empty object, if nothing has been entered.

Anchor to LimitationsLimitations

Settings of type liquid don't have access to the following liquid objects/tags:

• layout
• content_for_header
• content_for_layout
• content_for_index
• section
• javascript
• stylesheet
• schema
• settings

However, liquid settings can access the following:

• Global Liquid objects
• Template specific objects like collection, product, etc. (within their respective templates)
• Standard Liquid tags and filters

If your content includes non-existent, or empty, Liquid tags, then they will be rendered as empty strings. For example, the following setting generates the following output:

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Anchor to metaobjectmetaobject

A metaobject setting allows merchants to select metaobject entries of a designated type through a picker interface. This setting supports both standard and custom metaobject definitions:

1. Standard metaobject definitions: These are readily available in the theme editor and do not need to be pre-enabled on a shop. An example of a standard metaobject is the product_review metaobject. Learn more about current standard metaobject definitions.
2. Custom metaobject definitions: These are designed for custom themes and require the metaobject definition to already exist. Note that custom metaobject definitions are not allowed in themes listed on the Theme Store. An example of a custom metaobject would be an author metaobject.

Additionally, apps can utilize metaobject settings with their own app-owned metaobject definitions and entries.

metaobject type settings have the following attributes, in addition to the standard attributes of an input setting:

A metaobject setting value can be either of the following formats:

• A metaobject object
• blank if no selection has been made, the selection isn't visible, or the selection no longer exists

Anchor to Standard metaobject exampleStandard metaobject example

Anchor to Custom metaobject exampleCustom metaobject example

Anchor to LimitationsLimitations

• Only a single metaobject_type is supported at a time, as defined in the setting's schema.
• In order for themes to meet publishing guidelines for the Shopify Theme Store, only standard definitions can be used. Custom or app owned definitions cannot be used.
• When referencing a custom or app created metaobject_type, the definition must exist on the shop and be available to the storefront. If either condition isn't met, the setting will show an error in the theme editor.

Anchor to Usage in appsUsage in apps

Apps can leverage metaobject settings in their app blocks or embeds to enhance theme functionality. By creating metaobject definitions under reserved namespaces, apps can offer advanced configuration options for merchants while maintaining a simple user experience.

Consider an app designed to improve brand storytelling through customer testimonials. Here's a potential implementation:

1. Create a custom metaobject definition named Customer Testimonial
2. Use app blocks to collect customer data on a post-purchase page
3. Write this data as Customer Testimonial metaobject entries
4. Provide a Testimonial app block with a metaobject setting that uses the Customer Testimonial metaobject type
5. Access the metaobject setting value in Liquid to display the selected testimonials

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Anchor to metaobject_listmetaobject_list

A metaobject_list setting allows merchants to select multiple metaobject entries of a designated type through a picker interface. This setting supports both standard and custom metaobject definitions:

1. Standard metaobject definitions: These are readily available in the theme editor and do not need to be pre-enabled on a shop. An example of a standard metaobject is the product_review metaobject. Learn more about current standard metaobject definitions.
2. Custom metaobject definitions: These are designed for custom themes and require the metaobject definition to already exist. Note that custom metaobject definitions are not allowed in themes listed on the Theme Store. An example of a custom metaobject would be an author metaobject.

Additionally, apps can utilize metaobject_list settings with their own app-owned metaobject definitions and entries.

metaobject_list type settings have the following attributes, in addition to the standard attributes of an input setting:

A metaobject_list setting value can be either of the following formats:

• An array of metaobject objects

  The array supports pagination using the paginate tag. You can also append .count to the setting key to return the number of metaobject entries in the array.

• blank if no selection has been made, the selection isn't visible, or the selection no longer exists

Anchor to Standard metaobject list exampleStandard metaobject list example

Anchor to Custom metaobject list exampleCustom metaobject list example

Anchor to LimitationsLimitations

• Only a single metaobject_type is supported at a time, as defined in the setting's schema.
• In order for themes to meet publishing guidelines for the Shopify Theme Store, custom or app owned definitions cannot be used.
• When referencing a custom or app created metaobject_type, the definition must exist on the shop and be available to the storefront. If either condition isn't met, the setting will show an error in the theme editor.

Anchor to Usage in appsUsage in apps

Apps can leverage metaobject_list settings in their app blocks or embeds to enhance theme functionality. By creating metaobject definitions under reserved namespaces, apps can offer advanced configuration options for merchants while maintaining a simple user experience. Using the same example as above, a Testimonials app-block could allow merchants to select multiple testimonial entries. The metaobject_list setting would make this implementation possible.

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Anchor to pagepage

A setting of type page outputs a page picker field that's automatically populated with the available pages for the store. You can use this setting type to capture a page selection, such as the page to feature content for in a size-chart display.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a page type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A page object.

To ensure backwards compatibility with legacy resource-based settings, outputting the setting directly will return the object's handle.

• blank, if no selection has been made, the selection isn't visible, or the selection no longer exists.

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Anchor to productproduct

A setting of type product outputs a product picker field that's automatically populated with the available products for the store. You can use this setting type to capture a product selection, such as the product to feature on the homepage.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a product type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A product object.

To ensure backwards compatibility with legacy resource-based settings, outputting the setting directly will return the object's handle.

• blank if no selection has been made, the selection isn't visible, or the selection no longer exists

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Anchor to product_listproduct_list

A setting of type product_list outputs a product picker field that's automatically populated with the available products for the store. You can use this setting type to capture multiple products, such as a group of products to feature on the homepage.

In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, product_list type settings have the following attributes:

When accessing the value of a product_list type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• An array of product objects

The array supports pagination using the paginate tag. You can also append .count to the setting key to return the number of collections in the array.

• blank if no selection has been made, the selection isn't visible, or the selection no longer exists

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Anchor to richtextrichtext

A setting of type richtext outputs a multi-line text field with the following basic formatting options:

• Bold
• Italic
• Underline
• Link
• Paragraph
• Unordered list

You can use this setting type to capture formatted text content, such as introductory brand content on the homepage.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a richtext type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string that contains the entered content.
• An empty object, if nothing has been entered.

Anchor to defaultdefault

The default attribute isn't required. However, if it's used, then only <p> or <ul> tags are supported as top-level elements.

The following HTML tags are also supported inside the parent <p> tag:

• <p>
• <br />
• <strong>
• <b>
• <em>
• <i>
• <u>
• <span>
• <a>

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Anchor to text_alignmenttext_alignment

A setting of type text_alignment outputs a SegmentedControl field with icons. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, text_alignment type settings support the following attribute:

The following default values can't be changed to a different value:

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When you access the value of a text_alignment type setting, data is returned as a string.

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Anchor to urlurl

A setting of type url outputs a URL entry field where you can manually enter external URLs and relative paths. It also has a picker that's automatically populated with the following available resources for the shop:

• Articles
• Blogs
• Collections
• Pages
• Products

You can use this setting type to capture a URL selection, such as the URL to use for a slideshow button link.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a url type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string that contains the selected URL.
• nil, if nothing has been entered.

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Anchor to videovideo

A setting of type video outputs a video picker that's automatically populated with the available videos from the Files section of the Shopify admin. The merchant also has the option to upload new videos.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

The video type setting also accepts metafields of type file_reference as a dynamic source.

When accessing the value of a video type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A video object.
• nil, if:
  • no selection has been made,
  • the selection no longer exists, or
  • the selection is a file_reference metafield that points to a non-video file.

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Anchor to video_urlvideo_url

A setting of type video_url outputs a URL entry field. In addition to the standard attributes of an input setting, video_url type settings have the following attributes:

this setting type can be used to capture a video URL from YouTube and/or Vimeo, such as the URL for a static video to show in the product description.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

When accessing the value of a video_url type setting, data is returned in one of the following formats:

• A string that contains the entered URL.
• nil, if nothing has been entered.

Additionally, there's access to the id and type (YouTube or Vimeo) of the video.

For example, assuming you're using this video with the above setting, the following Liquid generates the following output:

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Anchor to Create linksCreate links

You can add links to the info settings attribute by enclosing the link text in brackets and then following it immediately with the URL in parentheses.

For example, the following setting generates the following output:

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