Shopify Programming Language: What It Is & How to Learn It

If you are about to or already run a Shopify store, then you must sometimes wonder what is the Shopify programming language. The understanding of this fact can help them make the most out of this fantastic eCommerce platform.

Therefore, today we are going through all that you need to know about the programming language used by Shopify. Let’s get started!

What Is the Shopify Programming Language?

The Shopify programming language is Liquid. It is an open-source template language created by Shopify and written in Ruby. Liquid serves as the backbone of every Shopify theme, controlling how dynamic content like product names, prices, and images display on your storefront.

So what makes Liquid different from general programming languages like Python or JavaScript? Liquid is a template language, not a full programming language. It is designed specifically to generate HTML output by combining static layout files with dynamic store data. You write Liquid code in your theme files, and Shopify’s servers process it to produce the final web pages your customers see.

Think of it this way. Your theme’s HTML and CSS handle the visual design. Liquid fills in the actual store data, such as pulling the correct product title, checking whether an item is in stock, or looping through a collection of products.

To learn more about Liquid in depth, check out our Liquid Shopify Guides that cover tags, filters, objects, and basics.

Core components of Liquid

Liquid has three main building blocks: objects, tags, and filters. Every piece of Liquid code you write uses one or more of these components.

1. Objects

Objects represent the data Shopify sends to your theme. They tell Liquid what content to display on the page. You write objects using double curly braces.

For example:

• {{ product.title }} outputs the product name
• {{ product.price | money }} outputs the formatted price
• {{ product.description }} outputs the product description

Shopify provides dozens of built-in objects covering products, collections, customers, cart items, shop settings, and more. Each object has its own set of properties you can access.

2. Tags

Tags control the logic and flow of your templates. They let you create conditions, loops, and variable assignments. Tags use curly braces with percent signs.

• Conditional logic: {% if product.available %} Add to cart {% endif %} shows the button only when the product is in stock.
• Loops: {% for product in collection.products %} {{ product.title }} {% endfor %} displays every product in a collection.
• Variable assignment: {% assign sale_price = product.price | times: 0.8 %} calculates a discounted price.

3. Filters

Filters modify the output of objects. You apply them using a pipe character after the object. Filters can be chained together for multiple transformations.

Examples:

• {{ product.title | upcase }} converts the title to uppercase.
• {{ product.price | money }} formats the number as currency.
• {{ product.created_at | date: "%B %d, %Y" }} formats a date.
• {{ "hello world" | capitalize | prepend: "Say: " }} outputs “Say: Hello world”.

How Liquid Works in Shopify Themes

Shopify themes use Liquid along with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and JSON. These languages work together inside your theme files to build every page of your store. To edit them, you need to access the Shopify code editor. Here is how to get there.

• In your Shopify admin, go to Online Store > Themes
• Find your current theme, click the three dots beside the Customize button, and select Edit code

The code editor will open with all your theme folders listed on the left side. Each folder organizes a different type of file:

• Layout: contains the main wrapper (theme.liquid) that wraps every page
• Templates: holds JSON files that define which sections appear on each page type
• Sections: contains reusable Liquid files for distinct content blocks (header, footer, product grid, etc.)
• Snippets: stores small, reusable Liquid code fragments
• Assets: holds CSS, JavaScript, and image files
• Config: stores theme settings as JSON
• Locales: contains translation files for multi-language support

You can open multiple files at once through tabs and edit them side by side. Before making any changes, I recommend you duplicate your theme first so you can always revert if something goes wrong.

If you are not familiar with Liquid coding yet, you do not have to edit theme files directly. Shopify’s theme editor and ready-made sections let you customize your store visually without writing code.

Other Languages in Shopify Development

Liquid does not work alone. Several other languages play important roles in building and customizing Shopify stores.

1. HTML

HTML provides the structural foundation of every Shopify theme. Liquid code is embedded directly inside HTML files. The HTML defines the page structure (headings, paragraphs, divs, forms), while Liquid fills in the dynamic content.

2. CSS

CSS controls the visual styling of your store. Colors, fonts, spacing, layouts, and responsive design are all handled through CSS. Most modern Shopify themes use a combination of custom CSS and utility classes.

3. JavaScript

JavaScript adds interactivity to your storefront. Things like dropdown menus, product image galleries, AJAX cart updates, and dynamic filtering all rely on JavaScript. Shopify themes commonly use vanilla JavaScript or lightweight libraries.

4. JSON

JSON is playing an increasingly important role in Shopify themes. Online Store 2.0 uses JSON template files to define which sections appear on each page. JSON is also used for theme settings, locale translations, and data exchange with Shopify’s APIs.

Together, these four languages, along with Liquid, form the complete frontend toolkit for Shopify theme development.

What programming language is Shopify built on?

Liquid is an open-source template language created by Shopify and written in Ruby. It is the backbone of Shopify themes and is used to load dynamic content on storefronts. Liquid has been in production use at Shopify since 2006 and is now used by many other hosted web applications.

The Development Phase

Three developers created Shopify, and it only took two months for them to do that, which is very impressive. Shopify released its iOS app that enabled the store owners to run their stores from their iPhone and iPad in 2010. Shopify introduced its Shopify Payments that allowed the retailers to accept credit cards without integrating any third-party gateway in August 2013.

It also launched the point of sale system using iPad. By doing that, merchants can utilize an iPad to accept credit and debit card offline. In December 2016, they released the Frenzy app to grow flash sales and increasing product sales by triggering demand. One year after, Shopify confirmed cooperating with Amazon to help merchants to sell their products on Amazon from their Shopify stores. Not only that, they became business partners with Deliv for same-day delivery.

Shopify’s Backend Stack: Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails – Tobi Lütke is the main Shopify developer. As mentioned above, with the company name being Snowdevil, he used to sell snowboards online. Nevertheless, he was unable to find a platform as he expected. He was one of the core Ruby on Rails developers in the Ruby organization at that time. Hence, he selected Ruby on Rails as a programming language for the platform. But he did not use only Ruby on Rails as programming language. The use of Liquid templating language implies that.

Why he picked Ruby on Rails is the convenience and tailor-made characteristics it brought about to develop the Shopify platform. Besides, Tobi realized that in the future, there should be more scalability since he was positive about his brand’s potential. Nowadays, Ruby is among the most popular scalable programming languages.

Beyond Ruby, Shopify’s backend also relies on:

• MySQL as the primary database system
• Rust and Go for performance-critical system components where Ruby is less suitable
• Lua for specific high-performance features that need to run efficiently under heavy traffic loads
• Docker and Nginx for containerization and web server infrastructure
• Kafka for event streaming and real-time data processing

Shopify also uses Sorbet, a static type checker for Ruby, to catch bugs early and improve code reliability across their massive codebase.

For merchants, the Shopify Admin panel runs on React with TypeScript, driven entirely by GraphQL. Every Shopify mobile app now runs on React Native, sharing code across Android and iOS platforms.

Shopify also introduced Shopify Payments for payment processing and a point of sale system so merchants can sell in person too.

Shopify App Development Languages

If you want to go beyond theme customization and build Shopify apps, you’ve got several language options. Here’s what the current app development ecosystem looks like.

Node.js and React (recommended)

Shopify’s official app template uses Node.js for the backend and React with React Router for the frontend. This is the recommended stack for new Shopify apps. Shopify CLI generates a ready-to-go project with this setup.

Previously, Shopify used Remix as their frontend framework for apps. As of 2026, they’ve transitioned to React Router, so new projects should follow this direction.

Ruby on Rails

Since Shopify itself runs on Rails, Ruby on Rails is a fully supported option for app development. Shopify provides official Ruby gems and libraries for authentication, API access, and webhook handling.

Python

Python works well for Shopify app backends, especially if you’re building data-heavy features or integrating with machine learning services. Shopify’s REST and GraphQL APIs are language-agnostic, so any language that can make HTTP requests will work.

GraphQL API

All modern Shopify app development revolves around the GraphQL Admin API. This is Shopify’s primary API for reading and writing store data. GraphQL lets you request exactly the data you need in a single query, making it more efficient than traditional REST endpoints.

Shopify Functions (WebAssembly)

For extending Shopify’s backend logic (like custom discounts, payment rules, or delivery options), Shopify Functions let you write small, focused programs that run directly on Shopify’s infrastructure. These compile to WebAssembly and currently support Rust and JavaScript as source languages.

Polaris design system

Shopify provides Polaris, their open-source design system, for building app interfaces that look and feel native to the Shopify Admin. Polaris includes React components and design guidelines.

Hydrogen and Oxygen (Headless Commerce)

For merchants who need full control over their storefront, Shopify offers Hydrogen, a React-based framework for building custom headless storefronts. Hydrogen connects directly to Shopify’s Storefront API through GraphQL, giving developers complete freedom over the frontend while Shopify handles the backend commerce logic.

Hydrogen uses React Server Components for fast page loads and ships with built-in commerce components like product cards, cart drawers, and collection grids. It’s built for teams that need a storefront experience beyond what Liquid themes can offer.

Oxygen is Shopify’s hosting platform designed specifically for Hydrogen storefronts. Instead of deploying to third-party services like Vercel or AWS, you can host your Hydrogen app directly on Shopify’s infrastructure. Oxygen is included with Shopify plans at no extra cost.

When should you choose Hydrogen over Liquid? If your store needs a highly interactive, app-like shopping experience or you want to share frontend code across web and mobile, Hydrogen is the better fit. For most standard stores, Liquid themes still work well and are easier to maintain.

Shopify CLI

Shopify CLI is the command-line tool that ties the development workflow together. It lets you create new apps and themes, preview changes locally, and deploy to Shopify directly from your terminal. If you’re building anything beyond basic theme edits, Shopify CLI is where you’ll spend most of your time.

How to learn the Shopify programming language?

From our own experience, here are several options for learning Shopify’s programming languages:

1. Start with the Basics: Learn HTML, CSS, and basic JavaScript

These three languages are the foundation of all web development, including Shopify. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should understand how HTML structures a page, how CSS styles it, and how JavaScript adds interactivity.

Free Resources: Utilize online tutorials, courses, and documentation on platforms like Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, or W3Schools.

2. Learn Liquid through Shopify’s official docs

• Shopify’s Documentation: The official Shopify documentation on Liquid is comprehensive and provides a solid starting point.
• Online Courses: Consider paid courses like the “Shopify Theme Development” course on Udemy for a more structured learning experience.
• Practice: Build simple templates and experiment with different Liquid objects, tags, and filters.

Also explore our Liquid Shopify Guides for practical tutorials and walkthroughs.

3. Practice with a development store

Shopify offers free development stores through their Partner Program. Sign up, create a test store, and start editing theme code. There’s no risk of breaking a live store, so experiment freely.

Try these beginner projects:

• Modify a product page layout
• Create a custom section for announcements
• Add conditional logic (like showing a “Free Shipping” banner above a certain cart value)

4. Community Support

• Shopify Forums: Engage with the Shopify community forums to ask questions, seek help, and learn from experienced developers.
• Reddit: Participate in subreddits like r/shopify to connect with other developers and learn from their experiences.

5. Hands-On Projects

• Customize Existing Themes: Start by making small modifications to existing Shopify themes to get comfortable with Liquid.
• Build Your Own Theme: As you gain confidence, try creating your own custom theme from scratch.

Additional Tips:

• Start with small, achievable goals and gradually build your skills.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help from the Shopify community or hire a developer for more complex projects.
• Stay updated with the latest Shopify developments and best practices.

By combining these approaches and utilizing the available resources, you can effectively learn the Shopify programming languages and unlock a world of customization possibilities for your online store.

No-Code Alternatives for Non-Developers

Not everyone needs to learn coding. Shopify is designed so most store owners can build and run a successful store without writing a single line of code.

Shopify Theme Editor: The built-in drag-and-drop theme editor lets you customize your store’s look and feel. With Online Store 2.0 themes, you can add, rearrange, and configure sections on any page without touching code.

Shopify App Store: The Shopify App Store has thousands of apps that add functionality to your store. Need email marketing, product reviews, loyalty programs, or upselling features? There’s likely an app for it. For example, Avada SEO Image Optimizer can help improve your store’s search performance without any coding.

Page builders: Third-party page builder apps let you create custom landing pages and product pages with visual drag-and-drop editors.

Shopify Magic and AI tools: Shopify has integrated AI features directly into the platform. These include AI-generated product descriptions, automated email content, and smart recommendations that require zero coding knowledge.

For most store owners, these no-code tools cover everything you need. Learning Liquid becomes valuable when you want truly custom designs or functionality that goes beyond what built-in tools and apps can offer.

Final thoughts

The Shopify programming language is Liquid, a template language built on Ruby that powers every Shopify theme. Beyond Liquid, Shopify’s full tech stack includes Ruby on Rails, JavaScript, TypeScript, React, MySQL, GraphQL, and several other technologies.

For store owners, learning Liquid basics gives you more control over your store’s appearance and functionality. For developers, the Shopify ecosystem offers career opportunities across theme development, app building, and custom integrations.

Shopify Programming Language: FAQs