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How to Create and Customize Shopify Theme Sections for Unique Page Layouts

In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of creating and customizing Shopify theme sections. From structuring your sections to adding custom content and making them dynamic, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to take full advantage of Shopify’s section-based design.

Shopify’s theme sections are a powerful way to create dynamic, flexible, and reusable layouts that enhance your store’s appearance and functionality. By leveraging sections, you can design unique pages that cater to your brand’s style and improve the shopping experience.

In this tutorial, we’ll walk you through the process of creating and customizing Shopify theme sections. From structuring your sections to adding custom content and making them dynamic, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to take full advantage of Shopify’s section-based design.

What Are Shopify Theme Sections?

Shopify theme sections are modular components that allow you to customize the layout and content of your store. They provide flexibility by enabling drag-and-drop functionality in the Shopify theme editor.

  • Static Sections: Appear on every page (e.g., header, footer).
  • Dynamic Sections: Can be added, removed, and rearranged on specific pages, such as the homepage.

Benefits of Using Shopify Sections

  1. Reusability: Use the same section across multiple pages, saving time.
  2. Flexibility: Customize pages without writing extensive code.
  3. Improved User Experience: Create tailored layouts that meet customer expectations.

Getting Started with Shopify Sections

Step 1: Access Your Theme Files

  1. Go to Shopify Admin > Online Store > Themes.
  2. Click Actions > Edit Code.
  3. Open the Sections directory in the file tree.

Step 2: Create a New Section

  1. Click Add a new section.
  2. Name your section, e.g., custom-banner.
  3. This creates a blank .liquid file in the Sections directory.

Basic Structure of a Shopify Section

A Shopify section typically includes:

  1. HTML for Structure: Defines the layout.
  2. Liquid for Dynamic Data: Fetches data from the store.
  3. Schema for Settings: Adds customizable fields in the theme editor.
  4. CSS for Styling: Enhances the appearance

Example: Basic Section Structure liquid Copy code

<!– custom-banner.liquid –>
<section class=”custom-banner”>
<div class=”banner-content”>
<h2>{{ section.settings.banner_heading }}</h2>
<p>{{ section.settings.banner_text }}</p>
<a href=”{{ section.settings.banner_link }}” class=”button”>{{ section.settings.banner_button_text }}</a>
</div>
</section>

{% schema %}
{
“name”: “Custom Banner”,
“settings”: [
{
“type”: “text”,
“id”: “banner_heading”,
“label”: “Banner Heading”,
“default”: “Welcome to Our Store”
},
{
“type”: “textarea”,
“id”: “banner_text”,
“label”: “Banner Text”,
“default”: “We offer the best products.”
},
{
“type”: “url”,
“id”: “banner_link”,
“label”: “Button Link”,
“default”: “/collections/all”
},
{
“type”: “text”,
“id”: “banner_button_text”,
“label”: “Button Text”,
“default”: “Shop Now”
}
],
“presets”: [
{
“name”: “Custom Banner”,
“category”: “Banner”
}
]
}
{% endschema %}

Customizing a Section

1. Adding Dynamic Content

Dynamic content allows you to display data like product information or collection details.

Example: Display a Product Title liquid Copy code

<h2>{{ product.title }}</h2>

How to Calculate:

<section class=”featured-product”>
<h2>{{ section.settings.featured_product_title }}</h2>
<p>{{ all_products[section.settings.featured_product_handle].title }}</p>
</section>

{% schema %}
{
“name”: “Featured Product”,
“settings”: [
{
“type”: “text”,
“id”: “featured_product_title”,
“label”: “Section Title”,
“default”: “Featured Product”
},
{
“type”: “product”,
“id”: “featured_product_handle”,
“label”: “Select a Product”
}
]
}
{% endschema %}

2. Adding CSS for Styling

Enhance the visual appeal by adding custom CSS.

Example: Custom Banner Styling css Copy code

.custom-banner { background-color: #f8f9fa; text-align: center; padding: 20px; } .custom-banner .button { background-color: #ff6a00; color: white; padding: 10px 20px; text-decoration: none; }

Advanced Techniques

1. Creating Conditional Logic

Show or hide content based on conditions.

Example: Custom Banner Styling css Copy code

{% if product.compare_at_price > product.price %}
<span class=”sale-badge”>On Sale</span>
{% endif %}

2. Using Loops

Display multiple items dynamically, such as products in a collection.

Example: Product Grid liquid Copy code

<div class=”product-grid”>
{% for product in collection.products %}
<div class=”product-item”>
<h3>{{ product.title }}</h3>
<p>{{ product.price | money }}</p>
<a href=”{{ product.url }}”>View Product</a>
</div>
{% endfor %}
</div>

3. Adding Animation

Use CSS or JavaScript to add animations for better interactivity.

Example: Fade-In Effect css Copy code

.product-item { opacity: 0; transition: opacity 0.5s ease-in; } .product-item:hover { opacity: 1; }

integrating Your Section into a Page

  1. Open the page template file where you want to add the section (e.g., index.liquid for the homepage).
  2. Add the section using the {% section %} tag:

{% section ‘custom-banner’ %}

  1. Save and refresh your store to see the section in action.

Tips for Optimizing Shopify Sections

  1. Keep It Modular: Design sections to be reusable across multiple pages.
  2. Use Schema Thoughtfully: Include clear labels and defaults to make customization easier for non-technical users.
  3. Test Responsiveness: Ensure your sections work seamlessly on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices.
  4. Optimize for Performance: Minimize code and compress images to reduce load times.

Real-Life Example: Creating a Testimonials Section

Here’s a complete example of a testimonials section:

Code

<section class=”testimonials”>
<h2>{{ section.settings.heading }}</h2>
<div class=”testimonial-list”>
{% for block in section.blocks %}
<div class=”testimonial-item”>
<p>”{{ block.settings.testimonial_text }}”</p>
<p><strong>- {{ block.settings.testimonial_author }}</strong></p>
</div>
{% endfor %}
</div>
</section>

{% schema %}
{
“name”: “Testimonials”,
“settings”: [
{
“type”: “text”,
“id”: “heading”,
“label”: “Section Heading”,
“default”: “What Our Customers Say”
}
],
“blocks”: [
{
“type”: “testimonial”,
“name”: “Testimonial”,
“settings”: [
{
“type”: “textarea”,
“id”: “testimonial_text”,
“label”: “Testimonial Text”
},
{
“type”: “text”,
“id”: “testimonial_author”,
“label”: “Author Name”
}
]
}
],
“presets”: [
{
“name”: “Testimonials”,
“category”: “Feedback”
}
]
}
{% endschema %}

Styling:

.testimonials { background-color: #f4f4f4; padding: 30px; text-align: center; } .testimonial-item { margin-bottom: 20px; }

Conclusion

Shopify theme sections are a powerful tool for creating unique and engaging page layouts. By following this tutorial, you can create reusable, dynamic sections that enhance your store’s functionality and visual appeal. Whether you’re building a custom banner, product grid, or testimonials section, the possibilities are endless.

Experiment with different layouts, test your designs across devices, and use the flexibility of Shopify sections to create a store that stands out.

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