Adding standard metafield definitions

Standard definitions are automatically configured for you, and are designed to be universally compatible across Shopify. Because standard metafield definitions follow standards that are used across Shopify stores, they're supported by apps, themes, and other parts of your store. Some examples of standard definitions include product rating, time and date, and related products.

Category metafields are added when a pre-defined, standard category is assigned to a product. For example, if you add the product category Apparel & Accessories > Clothing > Clothing Tops > Shirts, then you can add category metafields such as the following:

• size
• neckline
• sleeve length type
• top length type
• age group
• fabric
• target gender
• clothing features
• color

You can edit your product attribute entries in Content > Metaobjects or from the product details page.

Whenever possible, use a standard definition for your metafields. For more information, refer to Shopify standard metafields.

Add a standard definition

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Metafields and metaobjects.

2. Select the part of your store that you want to add a metafield to. For example, Products.

3. Click Add definition.

4. In the Name field, enter a keyword that matches the standard definition you want to use, such as care for the care guide definition or rating for the product rating definition. Suggested standard definitions display as clickable pills below the Name field. For more information, refer to Shopify standard metafields.

5. Click the standard definition pill that matches your needs. The name, namespace and key, description, and type fields are automatically filled in from the standard definition.

6. Review the details of the standard definition. Standard definitions have limited editing options, and the type and description fields are read-only.

7. Optional: To prevent custom storefronts from displaying values for this metafield, deselect Storefronts.

8. Optional: To allow for this definition to display for smart collections, select Smart collections. This option is only available for product and variant metafields.

9. Optional: To unpin the metafield so that the corresponding pages in your Shopify admin don't automatically display the metafield, click Definition pinned.

10. Click Save.

Next steps after adding metafield definitions

After you add definitions for your metafields, you can complete the following actions:

• Pin or unpin metafield definitions to determine the order in which your metafields are displayed.
• Add values to metafields for parts of your store.
• Connect your metafields to your theme to display them on your online store.

Using standard metafields with the Storefront API

If you want to allow custom storefronts to display your metafields, then you can give access to the Storefront API when you create or edit a metafield definition. If you sell your Shopify products through a non-Shopify website, video game, or other custom shopping experience, then you might want to give access to the Storefront API.

By default, values for standard metafields are accessible to custom storefronts. Learn more about using metafields with the Storefront API.