What is block.shopify_attributes used for in website sections?

Topic summary

Purpose of block.shopify_attributes:

This Liquid object adds data attributes to HTML elements that enable the Shopify theme editor’s JavaScript API to identify and interact with blocks.

Key functionality:

  • Allows blocks to be clickable, draggable, and editable directly within the theme customizer
  • Enables the popup toolbar that appears when hovering over blocks in the editor
  • Required for proper block interaction in custom sections

Implementation:
Add {{ block.shopify_attributes }} to the HTML element wrapping each block in your section code. Reference examples can be found in Shopify’s Dawn theme (specifically the collection-list.liquid section).

Documentation:
Official documentation is available at shopify.dev/docs/api/liquid/objects/block#block-shopify_attributes, though community members note it lacks detailed explanation of the visual editing capabilities it enables.

The discussion includes a helpful screenshot demonstrating the interactive toolbar functionality that appears when this attribute is properly implemented.

Summarized with AI on November 2. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.

What does this do and when should I be using it in my sections? Is it just whenever I call a block in my html? I’ve read the doc and still don’t understand what it exactly does and when and why it is needed.

2 Likes

Hi @TheThisThat ,

It helps to display block in file section. Refer https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/online-store/themes/os20/theme-structure/sections/#customize-your-theme-templates-with-sections-and-blocks
You can refer to this code, it will show blocks when declaring schema, ex: https://github.com/Shopify/dawn/blob/main/sections/collection-list.liquid
https://i.imgur.com/sYe3MD5.png
Hope it clear to you.

If my answer can help you solve your issue, please mark it as a solution. Thank you and good luck.

Hey @TheThisThat ,

The accepted solution here didn’t really seem to clear things up, so I did a little digging myself.

This article states:

We’ll also use the block.shopify_attributes to add data attributes to the element. The theme editor’s JavaScript API uses a block’s shopify_attributes to identify blocks and listen for events.

6 Likes

For anyone who lands here in 2023, the answer to this question is documented here: https://shopify.dev/docs/api/liquid/objects/block#block-shopify_attributes

3 Likes

Although these answers are correct, Shopify docs don’t really explain it well. Here is an image of the functionality it adds.

Hovering blocks in your custom section with the {{block.shopify_attributes}} allows you to click, drag, and interact with the popup tool bar.