If you are a beginner web developer or a store owner looking for a modern, fast, and flexible eCommerce setup, you might have heard the term Headless Shopify.
But what does it actually mean?

In this blog, you’ll learn in the simplest way:

• What is Headless Shopify?

• Why developers use it

• How to create a headless Shopify website step-by-step

Let’s start!

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🔎 What Is Headless Shopify?

Headless Shopify means separating your Shopify backend from your frontend UI.

• Shopify Backend → Products, orders, checkout, payment

• Your Custom Frontend → Website design built with React, Next.js, Vue, etc.

Both parts talk to each other using the Shopify Storefront API.

✔ Simple Explanation

Think of Shopify like a human body:

• The body = backend (Shopify)

• The head = frontend (Shopify theme)

Headless Shopify removes the default head, allowing you to build a custom head (your own frontend) with modern technologies.

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⭐ Why Choose Headless Shopify?

1. Faster Website Speed

Modern frameworks like Next.js load pages extremely fast, improving user experience and SEO.

2. Fully Custom Website Design

You are not limited to Shopify themes.
You can create anything you want — animations, modern UI, advanced filters, custom cart, etc.

3. Better SEO Performance

You control:

• Page structure

• Metadata

• URL strategy

• Speed optimization

• Lighthouse scores

This makes your store more Google-friendly.

4. Easy to Integrate With APIs

You can connect AI tools, CRM systems, delivery APIs, loyalty programs, and more.

5. One Backend, Multiple Frontends

You can use the same Shopify backend for:

• Website

• Mobile app

• POS system

• Smart screens

• Multiple store fronts

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🛠 How to Create a Headless Shopify Website (Step-by-Step)

This is the easiest beginner-friendly roadmap.

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1. Create Your Shopify Store

If you don’t have one:

1. Go to Shopify

2. Sign up and create a store

3. Add products, collections, and store information

This becomes your backend.

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2. Generate Your Storefront API Key

Inside Shopify Admin:

1. Go to Apps → Develop Apps

2. Click Create App

3. Enable Storefront API

4. Copy:

   • Storefront Access Token

   • Store Domain (example: yourstore.myshopify.com)

You will use these in your frontend application.

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3. Choose Your Frontend Framework

Common options:

• Next.js (recommended)

• React

• Vue / Nuxt

• Remix

• SvelteKit

Next.js is the best choice for beginners because it's fast, SEO-friendly, and widely used for headless Shopify.

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4. Create Your Frontend Project

Example using Next.js:

This will create your frontend project.

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5. Connect Your Website With Shopify Storefront API

Create a file:

lib/shopify.js

Add your token inside .env:

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6. Fetch Products From Shopify

Example GraphQL query:

Use this to display:

• Home page product grid

• Collection page

• Product detail page

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7. Build Cart & Checkout

Using Shopify Storefront API, you can:

• Create cart

• Add products

• Update quantity

• Remove items

For payments, Shopify provides the secure checkout URL, so your payments remain safe and hosted on Shopify.

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8. Deploy Your Headless Shopify Store

Best hosting:

• Vercel (recommended for Next.js)

• Netlify

• Cloudflare Pages

Connect your GitHub repository → Add environment variables → Deploy.