Shopify API Skill

This skill allows you to effectively interact with Shopify's ecosystem through its various APIs.

API Selection Guide

Choose the right API for your task:

1. Admin GraphQL API (Preferred): Use for most backend operations. It's the primary API for Shopify, offering more features and efficiency than REST.
2. Admin REST API: Use for simple resource management if GraphQL is too complex for the specific task or if dealing with legacy systems.
3. Storefront API: Use for building custom shopping experiences (headless commerce). It is unauthenticated or uses public access tokens.

Authentication

Admin API (Custom Apps)

Most internal apps use a custom app access token.

• Header: X-Shopify-Access-Token: <shpat_...>
• URL: https://{shop}.myshopify.com/admin/api/{version}/{endpoint}

OAuth (Public Apps)

For apps distributed on the App Store.

• Header: X-Shopify-Access-Token: <access_token>
• Flow: Requires an OAuth exchange to get the offline/online token.

1. Admin GraphQL API

Endpoint

POST https://{shop}.myshopify.com/admin/api/{version}/graphql.json

Common Patterns

Querying Products

query getProducts($first: Int!) {
  products(first: $first) {
    edges {
      node {
        id
        title
        handle
      }
      cursor
    }
    pageInfo {
      hasNextPage
    }
  }
}

Mutation (Update Product)

mutation productUpdate($input: ProductInput!) {
  productUpdate(input: $input) {
    product {
      id
      title
    }
    userErrors {
      field
      message
    }
  }
}

Pagination

GraphQL uses cursor-based pagination. Always request pageInfo { hasNextPage } and the cursor of the last edge to fetch the next page using the after argument.

2. Admin REST API

Endpoint

https://{shop}.myshopify.com/admin/api/{version}/{resource}.json

Pagination

REST API uses link headers for pagination. Do not use page parameter for most resources; use page_info.

Example Request: GET /admin/api/2025-10/products.json?limit=50

Response Header: Link: <...page_info=...>; rel="next", <...>; rel="previous"

3. Storefront API

Endpoint

POST https://{shop}.myshopify.com/api/{version}/graphql.json

Authentication

• Header: X-Shopify-Storefront-Access-Token: <public_token>

Example Query

query {
  shop {
    name
  }
  products(first: 5) {
    edges {
      node {
        title
        priceRange {
          minVariantPrice {
            amount
            currencyCode
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Rate Limits

Shopify APIs use a leaky bucket algorithm.

• REST: 40 requests/bucket, refilled at 2/sec (Standard).
• GraphQL: Cost-based. 1000 cost points/bucket, refill rate varies (50/sec standard).

Handling: Check X-Shopify-Shop-Api-Call-Limit header (REST) or extensions.cost (GraphQL). Implement exponential backoff for 429 Too Many Requests.