Shopify SDK: A Developer’s Toolkit for Customizing Shopify

If you’re planning to build a custom Shopify app or improve how your store works, the Shopify SDK gives you the tools to do it right. It helps you connect with Shopify’s APIs, handle data securely, and speed up development across different platforms.

From backend automation to creating fast storefronts and even mobile apps, Shopify SDKs are designed to simplify complex tasks. You get ready-made methods, authentication tools, and more, so you can focus on building features that matter.

In this blog, we will cover how expert Shopify developers use these SDKs in real-world projects, from setup to webhooks and secure communication.

What is Shopify SDK

Shopify SDK is a set of tools and libraries that help developers interact with Shopify’s platform more easily. Instead of writing complex API calls from scratch, you can use these SDKs to handle common tasks like fetching product data, processing orders, handling authentication, or building custom storefronts.

These SDKs simplify development by offering pre-built functions for different parts of the Shopify ecosystem, whether you’re working on the backend, frontend, or a mobile app. They save time, reduce errors, and help you follow Shopify’s best practices.

Depending on what you’re building, there are different SDKs available for various use cases. Here, we have listed some popular SDKs:

Note: Depending on your project type, you can combine more than one SDK for full functionality.

How to Set Up Shopify SDKs

Before you start building apps or integrations with Shopify, you need a solid setup. That means installing the right SDK packages, generating API credentials, and initializing the SDK client correctly. A clean setup ensures everything runs smoothly, keeps your data secure, and helps you avoid time-wasting issues later during development.

Let’s walk through the setup process step-by-step. Whether you’re planning to work with a storefront, Shopify dashboard, or mobile integration, getting these basics right will save you a lot of time and headaches.

Installing SDKs

Here’s how to install the most commonly used Shopify SDKs for different platforms:

# Admin API SDK (Node.js)
npm install @shopify/shopify-api
# Python SDK
pip install shopifyapi
# Hydrogen React-based Storefront
npm create @shopify/hydrogen@latest

Each SDK serves a different purpose. The Admin API SDK is used to manage store data like products, orders, and customers. The Python SDK is handy for backend automation or server-side scripting. Hydrogen is Shopify’s React-based framework for building high-performing custom storefronts.

Tip: Always double-check the official Shopify docs before installing. Versions can change, dependencies get updated, and there might be new setup instructions or requirements depending on your use case.

Creating API Credentials

To authenticate your app with Shopify, you’ll need to create API credentials from the Shopify Partners Dashboard.

Steps:

1. Go to Apps > Create App.
2. Choose whether you want a public app (available to multiple stores) or a custom app (for a specific store).
3. Define the API scopes your app needs, like read_products, write_orders, and so on. These scopes control what your app can access.
4. Copy the API Key and API Secret Key. These are like your app’s login credentials.

Once you have them, make sure to store these keys securely using environment variables. Never hardcode them directly in your app; this helps prevent unauthorized access and protects sensitive data.

Initializing SDK Clients

Now that you have your credentials, the next step is to initialize your SDK client. Here’s an example using the Admin API SDK in a Node.js environment:

import { shopifyApi } from "@shopify/shopify-api";
const shopify = shopifyApi({
  apiKey: process.env.SHOPIFY_API_KEY,
  apiSecretKey: process.env.SHOPIFY_API_SECRET,
  scopes: ["read_products", "write_products"],
  hostName: "your-app.com"
});

This sets up a secure connection to Shopify’s API using OAuth and defines the access scopes for your app.

You’ll use this initialized shopify object to make API calls throughout your app, like creating products, updating orders, or fetching customer data.

How to Use SDKs for Real-World Store Tasks

Once your Shopify SDKs are properly set up, it’s time to put them to work. These SDKs let you perform real tasks that store owners actually care about, like managing inventory, customizing storefronts, embedding admin features, and building mobile shopping experiences.

Each SDK is built for a specific area of the Shopify ecosystem, so you can choose the right tool for the job.

Backend Tasks Using Admin API SDK

The Admin API SDK is perfect for managing stored data from your server or backend service. Here’s an example of how to create a product using the Node.js SDK:

// Create a new product (Node.js)
await shopify.rest.Product.create({
  session,
  title: "My Awesome Product",
  body_html: "<strong>Good stuff!</strong>",
  vendor: "Brand"
});

Here are some other tasks you can perform with this SDK:

• Retrieve and filter orders
• Update inventory levels in real-time
• Add custom meta fields to products or orders

It takes care of authentication, request structure, and error handling, so you can focus on writing logic instead of managing raw API calls.

Frontend Storefront with Storefront SDK / Hydrogen

If you’re building a custom shopping experience, Shopify provides two powerful options: the Storefront SDK and Hydrogen, a React-based framework. Here’s a basic example of fetching products using GraphQL:

query {
  products(first: 5) {
    edges {
      node {
        title
        handle
        images(first: 1) {
          edges {
            node {
              src
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

In Shopify Hydrogen, you’d typically run this query using:

const { data } = useShopQuery({
  query: QUERY,
});

What you can build:

• Interactive product listing pages
• Custom cart functionality
• Storefronts tailored to performance and brand style

Embedding Admin App with App Bridge

App Bridge helps you integrate your app inside the Shopify Admin with a native feel. It gives you access to UI components that work just like Shopify’s own admin tools.

Basic setup example:

import createApp from "@shopify/app-bridge";
const app = createApp({
  apiKey: "API_KEY",
  shopOrigin: "SHOP_DOMAIN",
  forceRedirect: true
});

You can:

• Display modals, banners, and toast messages
• Customize navigation inside the admin
• Use redirect, resource pickers, and save buttons

Tip: If you’re using React, the App Bridge React wrapper simplifies integration even more.

Mobile Integration with Mobile Buy SDK

If you’re developing a mobile app, the Mobile Buy SDK is your go-to tool. It gives native access to product browsing, cart management, and secure Shopify-hosted checkout.

What it enables:

• Browse collections and products
• Add items to the cart and update quantities
• Launch secure Shopify-hosted checkout

Why it matters: It delivers a smooth, fast mobile shopping experience without relying on embedded web views or clunky workarounds.

These SDKs give you structured power to build reliable, flexible, and store-specific features without dealing with repetitive, low-level API code. With hands-on functionality in place, you’re equipped to take your Shopify development to a professional level.

Authentication, Webhooks & Secure Communication

To build apps that interact securely with a Shopify store, proper authentication and communication setup is critical. Whether you’re exchanging sensitive customer data or handling real-time updates, Shopify SDKs provide built-in tools to make this seamless and safe.

OAuth Authentication Setup

Shopify uses OAuth 2.0 for secure, token-based app access. The Shopify Admin API SDK handles most of the process for you.

Example: Setup using Node.js SDK

import { shopifyApi } from "@shopify/shopify-api";
const shopify = shopifyApi({
  apiKey: process.env.SHOPIFY_API_KEY,
  apiSecretKey: process.env.SHOPIFY_API_SECRET,
  hostName: "your-app.com",
  scopes: ["read_orders", "write_products"]
});

Why it’s important: This ensures only authorized apps can access a store’s data and manages session handling automatically.

Registering & Handling Webhooks

Webhooks allow your app to respond to real-time store events like order creation, product updates, or customer logins.

Register Webhook (Node.js Example):

await shopify.webhooks.register({
  path: "/webhooks/orders/create",
  topic: "ORDERS_CREATE",
  webhookHandler: async (topic, shop, body) => {
    console.log("New order received:", JSON.parse(body));
  }
});

Here are some common events you can consider:

• ORDERS_CREATE → Triggered when a new order is placed
• CUSTOMERS_UPDATE → When customer info changes
• PRODUCTS_DELETE → If a product is removed

Pro Tip: Use ngrok or a tunnelling tool for local development testing.

Validating Webhook Requests

For security, every incoming webhook should be validated to ensure it’s truly from Shopify.

Example: HMAC verification (Node.js)

import crypto from "crypto";
function isValidShopifyWebhook(req, secret) {
  const hmacHeader = req.headers["x-shopify-hmac-sha256"];
  const body = JSON.stringify(req.body);
  const hash = crypto
    .createHmac("sha256", secret)
    .update(body, "utf8")
    .digest("base64");
  return hash === hmacHeader;
}

Why it matters: Prevents spoofed requests and ensures trust between your app and Shopify.

Proper authentication and webhook handling not only protect data but also improve app stability and trustworthiness.

With these secured communication layers in place, your app is well-positioned to scale and integrate deeply into any Shopify store.

Conclusion

Shopify SDKs are more than just developer tools; they’re the foundation for building powerful, scalable, and user-friendly Shopify apps and features. From backend automation to mobile integrations, these SDKs help simplify complex tasks and speed up development.

Whether you’re creating custom storefronts with Hydrogen or managing store data through the Admin API, Shopify SDKs let you work smarter while following best practices. They reduce boilerplate code, improve performance, and help keep your app secure and reliable.

If you’re looking to build a custom Shopify app or feature, our expert team can help you get there faster. We specialize in custom Shopify development that fits your business needs. Contact us today to get started!