Quick Summary
In the past few years, especially after the Covid, the eCommerce growth has exploded, with online sales surpassing $6.3 Trillion in 2024. With this growth, the catalogs have expanded, meaning a need for more efficient management and display of the product data. That’s where Shopify GraphQL pagination comes in.
With this GraphQL pagination, Shopify eStores can fetch and display data in manageable chunks without compromising speed or user experience. But for that, you need a clear understanding of its mechanics, from cursor-based navigation to optimizing query performance.
That’s what we will discuss through this. I’ll explain how the Shopify experts implement GraphQL pagination and improve the store performance effectively. Let’s begin.
GraphQL pagination is a technique used to manage and retrieve large datasets in smaller, more manageable chunks, or “pages,” rather than fetching all the data at once. This tactic is particularly useful in applications like eCommerce, where you need to display thousands of products or orders in a single request would be inefficient and slow.
Key features include:
You can leverage these features to efficiently handle large datasets while maintaining fast, responsive storefronts.
Types of Pagination
Pagination methods are typically categorized into offset-based and cursor-based approaches:
Mastering GraphQL and pagination fundamentals empowers developers to build scalable, high-performing Shopify stores. Understanding these tools sets the foundation for efficient data handling and enhanced user experiences.
Shopify uses the Relay-style cursor-based pagination in its GraphQL API. This method provides a pageInfo object containing metadata (e.g., hasNextPage, hasPreviousPage) and cursors (e.g., startCursor, endCursor) to navigate through pages. Here’s how it goes.
First, create a new React project using Create React App.
npx create-react-app shopify-graphql-pagination
cd shopify-graphql-pagination
Install the necessary dependencies for Apollo Client.
npm install @apollo/client graphql
Create a new file src/apolloClient.js to configure Apollo Client.
// src/apolloClient.js
import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache, createHttpLink } from '@apollo/client';
import { setContext } from '@apollo/client/link/context';
const shop = 'your-shop-name.myshopify.com';
const accessToken = 'your-storefront-access-token'; // Replace with your Storefront access token
const httpLink = createHttpLink({
uri: `https://${shop}/api/2023-10/graphql.json`, // Storefront API endpoint
});
const authLink = setContext((_, { headers }) => {
return {
headers: {
...headers,
'X-Shopify-Storefront-Access-Token': accessToken,
},
};
});
const client = new ApolloClient({
link: authLink.concat(httpLink),
cache: new InMemoryCache(),
});
export default client;
Create a new file src/queries.js to define your GraphQL queries.
// src/queries.js
import { gql } from '@apollo/client';
export const GET_PRODUCTS = gql`
query GetProducts($first: Int, $after: String) {
products(first: $first, after: $after) {
edges {
node {
id
title
handle
description
images(first: 1) {
edges {
node {
url
}
}
}
}
cursor
}
pageInfo {
hasNextPage
endCursor
}
}
}
`;
Create a new file src/App.js to define your main component.
// src/App.js
import React from 'react';
import { ApolloProvider, useQuery } from '@apollo/client';
import client from './apolloClient';
import { GET_PRODUCTS } from './queries';
const Products = () => {
const { loading, error, data, fetchMore } = useQuery(GET_PRODUCTS, {
variables: { first: 10 },
});
if (loading) return <p>Loading...</p>;
if (error) return <p>Error :(</p>;
const loadMore = () => {
fetchMore({
variables: {
after: data.products.pageInfo.endCursor,
},
updateQuery: (prev, { fetchMoreResult }) => {
if (!fetchMoreResult) return prev;
return {
products: {
__typename: prev.products.__typename,
edges: [...prev.products.edges, ...fetchMoreResult.products.edges],
pageInfo: fetchMoreResult.products.pageInfo,
},
};
},
});
};
return (
<div>
{data.products.edges.map(({ node }) => (
<div key={node.id} style={{ marginBottom: '20px' }}>
<h2>{node.title}</h2>
{node.images.edges[0] && <img src={node.images.edges[0].node.url} alt={node.title} style={{ width: '100px' }} />}
<p>{node.description}</p>
</div>
))}
<button onClick={loadMore} disabled={!data.products.pageInfo.hasNextPage}>
Load More
</button>
</div>
);
};
const App = () => (
<ApolloProvider client={client}>
<Products />
</ApolloProvider>
);
export default App;
Update src/index.js to render the App component.
// src/index.js
import React from 'react';
import ReactDOM from 'react-dom';
import './index.css';
import App from './App';
ReactDOM.render(
<React.StrictMode>
<App />
</React.StrictMode>,
document.getElementById('root')
);
Start the development server.
This setup ensures efficient data handling and a seamless user experience. You can further customize and extend this application based on your specific requirements.
If you need help with implementing this process effectively, have a consultation with our professional Shopify development company.
These strategies ensure optimal performance, efficient data handling, and seamless scalability for large Shopify stores.
To maximize performance, always select only the fields you need in your GraphQL queries. Unnecessary fields increase payload size and slow down responses.
Combine pagination with filters to narrow down results, such as fetching products by specific tags, collections, or availability.
For example, instead of retrieving all product details, query only the id, title, and price fields for a product list page. This ensures faster response times and reduced data transfer.
Pagination queries may encounter edge cases, such as empty datasets or API errors. Handle these gracefully by checking if the edges array is empty before processing the data.
For instance, in a React app, you can show a “No results found” message when no data is returned.
Additionally, implement robust error handling using try-catch blocks to capture and log API errors, ensuring the app doesn’t crash during unexpected failures.
Caching can significantly boost performance by reducing repetitive API calls. Store frequently accessed pages or query results locally or in a server-side cache.
Use tools like React Query or Apollo Client to implement caching in frontend applications. Ensure that cached data is invalidated or refreshed when new changes are made to the store to maintain accuracy.
Shopify enforces rate limits to prevent excessive API usage, calculated using a cost-based system where each query has a cost value.
Always monitor the X-Shopify-Shop-Api-Call-Limit header in the response to ensure you stay within the limits. To handle rate limits effectively:
Implementing advanced pagination techniques not only improves data efficiency but also contributes to a smoother, more reliable shopping experience.
By refining your approach with these best practices, you can ensure your Shopify store remains scalable, responsive, and ready to meet evolving customer needs. For that, you can hire our dedicated Shopify developers and make sure of the best results through these practices.
GraphQL offers more control over the data you retrieve. With REST, you often get more data than you need, impacting performance. GraphQL pagination allows you to fetch only the specific product information you require for the current page, minimizing data transfer and improving efficiency. It also reduces the number of API requests needed for navigation.
No, Shopify imposes limits on the number of records you can retrieve in a single API request. Pagination ensures that data is retrieved in smaller chunks, adhering to Shopify’s API rate limits.
The maximum limit for most queries is 250 items per request when using the first or last arguments. To retrieve more data, you must use cursors to paginate through the remaining results.
Efficient data handling is paramount for any successful eCommerce operation. Shopify’s GraphQL Admin API, coupled with its robust pagination capabilities, helps optimize data fetching and create seamless shopping experiences.
Implementing the techniques outlined in this blog will not only improve the speed and responsiveness of your applications but also enhance the overall UX. That means better customer satisfaction and potentially higher conversion rates.
If you need help implementing the Shopify GraphQL pagination on your store, connect with us today!
Ankur Shah is a tech-savvy expert specializing in eCommerce solutions. With a deep understanding of WooCommerce and Shopify, he helps businesses optimize their online stores for success. Whether it's implementing new features or troubleshooting issues, Ankur is your go-to guy for all things eCommerce.
