Designing a Shopify store that looks good and converts isn’t easy, especially when your theme limits layout options. You’re stuck with rigid templates that don’t match your brand or give you the flexibility to experiment.
That’s where Shopify sections and blocks can help. With the power of Online Store 2.0, you can now drag, drop, and rearrange elements on almost any page. These tools provide developers more control over layout, content, and overall store experience.
Here, we’ll break down what sections and blocks are, how they work, and how expert Shopify developers use them to customize online stores. We’ll also walk through a live example and share practical tips for both beginners and advanced users.
What are Shopify Sections and Blocks?
When you start customizing your Shopify store, everything you’re editing or moving around is either a section or a block. These are the basic building tools that control how your pages look, feel, and work. Whether it’s your homepage, a product page, or a landing page, Shopify gives you these elements to design things in your own way without coding.
What is a Section?
Think of a section as a larger layout piece. It could be a banner at the top of your page, a product grid, a video, or a call-to-action area. Each section usually takes care of one type of content and helps organize your page visually.
There are two kinds of sections:
Static sections are built into the theme and stay put. You’ll find these in places like the header and footer areas that appear on every page. They can’t be moved around or removed in the Shopify editor.
Dynamic sections are more flexible. These are the sections you can drag, drop, add, remove, and reorder on pages like your homepage. With these, you can mix different content types and create unique layouts in just a few clicks.
Sections give you creative control. You no longer need to rely on developers for every design change. Just use the Theme Editor to stack and arrange sections however you like—and build a store that actually feels like your brand.
What is a Block?
Inside each section, you’ll find blocks – the smaller elements that make up the content within that section. If a section is like a row of shelves, blocks are the items you place on each shelf.
A block might be a single image, a text blurb, a testimonial, an icon, or even a clickable button. For example, in a “Testimonials” section, each customer review would be its own block.
Here’s how blocks work:
They live inside sections, and they’re defined in the section’s code (called the schema).
You can add, remove, or rearrange blocks using the Shopify Theme Editor.
Each block comes with its own settings—like the text it shows, the image it uses, or the link it points to.
Blocks are useful when you need repeatable or varied content within a single section. Let’s say you’re building an FAQ section or listing customer testimonials. Instead of hardcoding each one, you just add a block for each item.
Creating a Dynamic Testimonials Section
Now that you know how Shopify sections and blocks work, let’s look at a real example to see them in action.
We’re going to build a custom testimonials section—something every store can benefit from. It’s a clean, flexible section that lets you show off customer feedback using editable blocks. Merchants can add, remove, and update testimonials right from the Theme Editor—no extra apps, no extra cost.
This is a perfect use case for Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 features and shows just how powerful sections and blocks can be when used correctly.
Step 1: Create the Testimonials Section
Head to your Shopify theme code. Go to sections → Add a new file → Name it testimonials.liquid.
It renders a testimonial layout that loops through each testimonial block.
It defines a section schema that lets merchants add up to 10 testimonials through the Theme Editor, each with a quote and an author.
If no testimonials have been added yet, the section will show a fallback message.
Step 2: Create a New Page in Shopify Admin
Next, we need to set up a page where this section will appear.
In your Shopify dashboard, Go to Online Store → Pages → Add Page. Give it a name like Testimonials. Leave the content area empty (we’ll be managing everything through the theme). Click Save.
This step just sets the foundation, depending on your admin layout). we’ll link this page to your new custom section next.
Go to Online Store → Pages → Add Page
Name it something like Testimonials
Leave the content empty and save the page
Step 3: Create a Custom Page Template (JSON)
To attach your new section to the page, you need a matching template. Go back to templates → Add a new file. Select “page” and name it testimonials.json.
This makes sure your custom section is loaded on this specific page.
Step 4: Assign the Template to the Page
Now that the template exists, link it to your new page. Go to Online Store → Pages → Testimonials, then click Edit.
Look for the Theme Template dropdown (usually on the right side or bottom, depending on your admin layout). Select page. Testimonials from the list. Click Save.
Your Testimonials page now knows how to load your custom section.
Step 5: Add Testimonial Blocks from the Theme Editor
Now, we need to add some testimonials. Go to Online Store → Customize.
In the sidebar, you’ll see your Testimonials Section. Click it, then choose Add block → Testimonial.
You’ll see input fields for:
Quote: The actual testimonial text
Author: The customer’s name
Fill them.
Add as many blocks as you like, rearrange them using drag-and-drop, and hit Save when you’re done.
Result
That’s it—you now have a fully functional, dynamic Testimonials section built using just Shopify sections and blocks.
Here’s what merchants can do with it:
Add or remove testimonials whenever needed
Edit the quote and author right from the editor—no code required
Reuse this same layout style for other content like FAQs, reviews, or feature highlights
This kind of flexibility is exactly what Shopify’s modular theme system is made for. Instead of relying on rigid templates or paid apps, you’re using built-in tools to create reusable content sections that work across your entire store.
Anatomy of Shopify Sections and Blocks
To really understand how Shopify sections and blocks work together, it helps to break down their structure. Whether you’re a developer creating a custom section or a merchant adding content, knowing how these pieces fit makes customization much easier.
Core Components of a Section
A typical Shopify section that uses blocks includes:
Liquid Markup: This is the code that controls how content is displayed on the storefront. It loops through blocks, displays images, text, or any settings added in the editor.
Schema: A JSON-like structure that defines the settings for both the section and its blocks. It tells Shopify what options to show in the theme editor.
Blocks: Defined inside the schema, each block contains its own customizable settings (like heading, text, image, etc.) and can be added, removed, or rearranged by the merchant.
These elements work together to create flexible and reusable layout components that can be managed without touching the code every time.
The Power of Online Store 2.0
Shopify’s Online Store 2.0 update supercharged how sections and blocks work:
Sections Everywhere: Before, dynamic sections were limited to the homepage. Now, they can be added to any page, including product, collection, and custom pages.
JSON Templates: These allow each page type (like product or about pages) to have its own layout, built using a combination of sections and blocks.
Cleaner Development Flow: With clearer file structures and modular design, developers can now create more organized and scalable themes.
Due to these changes, Shopify themes are now more flexible, user-friendly, and developer-ready.
Understanding this anatomy helps you build a strong foundation, whether you’re designing from scratch or simply editing a live store. With sections and blocks working in harmony, the possibilities for customization open wide.
Tips & Use Cases for Shopify Sections and Blocks
Once you understand how Shopify sections and blocks work, the next step is to use them smartly. Whether you’re a developer building themes or a merchant customizing your storefront, there are simple strategies and powerful possibilities to get more out of them.
Developer Tips
If you’re working on the theme side of things, here are some best practices:
Use Presets in Schema: Presets allow sections to appear in the Theme Editor automatically, making it easier for merchants to add them.
Use a block.shopify_attributes: This ensures each block is properly tracked and editable in the theme editor (essential for Online Store 2.0 support).
Keep Code Modular: Create reusable snippets inside your sections if your blocks share logic or markup. This keeps things DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself).
Validate Schema Carefully: A broken schema (e.g., missing commas or bad structure) will make your section fail silently. Always double-check formatting.
Merchant Tips
If you’re a store owner or content manager using the Theme Editor:
Explore the “Add Section” Panel: You can add available sections to almost any page now, not just the homepage.
Use Blocks to Tell a Story: Instead of static layouts, use repeatable blocks for things like testimonials, features, FAQs, or step-by-step guides.
Preview on Mobile and Desktop: Use the theme preview toggles to make sure blocks look good on all screen sizes.
Duplicate Sections for Variations: Want a slightly different testimonials layout for another page? Duplicate the section file, rename it, and customize the schema or layout.
Advanced Use Cases
Shopify sections and blocks aren’t just for content; they can power complex storefront functionality, too:
Product Highlights & Bundles: Use blocks to let merchants add multiple product cards in a single section, perfect for custom landing pages.
Custom FAQs Per Product: With JSON templates, you can build product-specific FAQs using a reusable section.
Interactive Galleries or Sliders: Use JavaScript or third-party libraries inside a section to build sliders or tabs, driven by dynamic block content.
Localized Content Blocks: Pair blocks with Shopify’s t translation function to offer multi-language content per block.
Shopify sections and blocks open up a world of layout flexibility and user-friendly content control. Whether you’re building themes or managing content, using them thoughtfully can make your store more dynamic, maintainable, and scalable over time.
FAQs on Shopify Sections and Blocks
What is the difference between a block and a section in Shopify?
A section is a larger content area on your store page (like a banner or product grid). A block is a smaller element inside a section (like a single product, image, or text item). Sections hold blocks.
What is the difference between snippets and sections in Shopify?
Sections are full layout parts that can be managed in the Theme Editor. Snippets are small pieces of reusable code (like buttons or icons) used inside sections or templates, but they’re not editable in the Theme Editor.
What is the maximum number of blocks in Shopify?
You can add up to 50 blocks inside a single section. This limit is set by Shopify.
What are blocks in Shopify?
Blocks are individual content items inside a section, like a review, image, or heading. They let you customize and organize content within a section using the Theme Editor.
How to create a dynamic section in Shopify?
To create a dynamic section, add a new file in your theme’s /sections folder (e.g. custom-section liquid). Define the layout and add a schema with editable settings and blocks using {% schema %}. Then, use the Shopify Theme Editor to add this section to any page that supports dynamic content.
Let’s Conclude
Shopify sections and blocks have completely changed how store design works. You’re no longer stuck with rigid templates or dependent on developers for every tweak. With a little understanding, you can customize your store layout like building with LEGO—quick, flexible, and totally in your control.
Whether you’re a developer building reusable components or a merchant just looking to update content faster, sections and blocks offer the perfect balance of structure and freedom.
If you need advanced customizations for your Shopify store, consulting with a Shopify development company can help you get the best results possible.
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.