I am new to Shopify partners community and have played around with creating example app and test stores. However, after lots of google search and going over documentations, I have reached a big confusion here: Can Shopify apps change storefront or customer experience?
At one hand, Shopify app docs are apparently saying it is only about the merchant experience and the Admin panel. Here is the exact quote: “Apps are structured to work seamlessly with the Shopify admin and to provide an intuitive experience for merchants.” There is no mention of customer experience. At the other hand, I keep seeing lots of apps with high rates in Shopify App Store changing user experience like “Printful: Print on Demand” and “Judge.me Product Reviews” just as examples.
So, I am asking myself “what is going on?”. I have already read about technologies like Oxygen and Hydrogen to create unique storefront experiences store pages. I also know about the Liquid for creating Shopify themes. But the questions are:
1- Are Shopify apps meant to touch on customer experience along the merchant experience and Admin Panel?
2- If yes, how does it work in overall? Is like using Hydrogen or Liquid stuff in Shopify app source codes?
I would appreciate a little bit of elaboration, if anybody could help.
Great Thanks 
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Hi,
It’s Stacy from Searchanise Team, the app that powers professional search & filters for Shopify stores. I can partially answer the question you’ve asked.
The question «how to create unique storefront experiences store pages» lies outside my expertise. But I can tell you a bit about the effect Shopify apps have on customer experience.
Indeed, you can significantly improve customer experience on your website using Shopify apps. For instance, Smart Search Bar & Filters by Searchanise helps to build smother onsite navigation with instant search results and advanced filters.
If you want to find out more about the impact of effective site search and filters on CX, let me suggest you read an article in our blog — The Ultimate Guide to Improving Your Digital Customer Experience.
And if you want to learn more about our app, just check out our listing.
Thanks Stacy.
Your answer has definitely expanded my understanding of Shopify Application. However, I could not fully resolve my confusion. I guess I am looking for more of a technical answer here.
I am very excited about Shopify App development with Polaris and App Bridge recommended by Shopify itself. But, as I review all technical documents, I have not found any technical example using these libraries that results to changing UI on the storefront for customer.
The search bar in “Smart Search Bar & Filters” is definitely a valid example that I am curious about how it can be developed and added to the storefront with Polaris or App Bridge.
Another way to ask the question might be:
how you can add a visual component to the storefront (not the admin) with your application technical wised.
Maybe it does not have anything to do with Polaris and App Bridge and the answer lies somewhere else :))
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Hi @bardiazamanian ,
Frankly speaking, I’m not an expert in Polaris and App Bridge, so I’m not sure about that. I’m sorry. And concerning
how you can add a visual component to the storefront (not the admin) with your application technical wised.
I can tell you that our app does not require changing the theme code. Our Instant Search Widget adjusts automatically to the search bar after installing the app. And the search result page is generated by itself. Also all the files are kept on our servers.
I hope it helps!
Best,
Stacy