Plenty of content has more than one field: an FAQ has a question and an answer, a product highlight has an icon, a title and a text. For data like this Shopify has metaobjects.
What metaobjects are
According to the Shopify Help Center, a metaobject lets you create an object with multiple fields. Metaobjects can be used on their own or referenced by metafields – from a product, for example.
Examples from the Shopify Help Center
- product highlights with an icon, title and description
- profiles, for example of influencers, with a headline, image and links
- FAQ sections with questions and answers
- event appearances with dates and locations
Where to find them
- The definition – which fields exist – is created under Settings → Custom data.
- The entries are managed under Content → Metaobjects.
According to Shopify, themes can access metaobjects through Liquid and the Storefront API.
Why this matters for apps
Apps can store their data as metaobjects in the merchant’s store too, instead of keeping it on their own servers. That’s how HGDE MatchGrid works: your finders and bundles live as metaobjects in your own Shopify account. The app server keeps no copy.