Every Shopify store starts with a theme, and sooner or later the theme does not do quite what you want. Some changes you can make yourself in the theme editor in minutes. Others need a developer to build a custom section with its own settings. This guide explains the difference, how input settings work in plain language, and how Javedify can do the custom work for you.
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Many Shopify owners are surprised by how much they can change themselves. In the theme editor you can reorder sections on a page, swap images, rewrite headings, change colours and fonts and preview everything before publishing. For a lot of stores that is all that is needed.
The limits show up when you want a layout your theme does not include: a size guide section, a comparison table, a custom product tab, a banner with options your theme lacks, or a header that behaves differently. That is where custom code comes in, and where the phrase input settings matters.
This page explains both sides, so you know what to do yourself, what to ask a developer for and what a good developer should hand back to you.
Arranging sections, blocks, menus, colours, fonts and content so the store looks the way you want without code.
New sections built for your store, such as size guides, comparison tables, FAQ blocks or feature highlights.
Editable fields so that you can change text, images, colours and options for a custom section from the editor.
Custom tabs, badges, variant displays, delivery estimates and trust blocks on product pages.
Mega menus, announcement bars and footer layouts matched to your catalogue.
Removing unused code and apps, compressing images and fixing layout shifts that slow the store.
The theme editor is Shopify's visual customiser. Pages are built from sections, and sections contain blocks. You can add, remove and reorder them, edit their content and adjust theme-wide settings such as colours, typography, buttons and layout. Newer themes let you use sections on almost any page, not only the home page.
The editor also lets you preview changes and keep them unpublished until you are ready. Before big changes, duplicate your live theme so you can roll back if something goes wrong.
When a developer builds a custom section, they define its settings in a block of code called the schema. Each setting becomes a field in the theme editor, and its type decides what kind of field you see. Common types include text and text area for short and long copy, rich text for formatted content, image picker for uploads, colour for colour choices, checkbox for on and off options, select and radio for lists of choices, range for sliders and number inputs, and pickers for products, collections, pages and links.
Good input settings mean you can change the section later without calling a developer. A badly built section hard-codes everything, so every text change needs code. When you hire someone, ask that anything you will want to change is an editable setting.
Hire a developer when you need behaviour or layout the editor cannot produce, when a section needs logic such as showing different content by product tag or collection, when an app has left broken code behind, or when the store is slow because of how the theme is built. For simple copy and image changes, the editor is faster and cheaper.
Many features can be added with a paid app, and sometimes that is the sensible choice. But each app adds scripts, a monthly fee and a dependency on a third party. For small features such as a size guide, a trust bar or a comparison table, a custom section often loads faster and costs nothing monthly. We compare both options for you before building.
We never edit your live theme directly. We duplicate it, make changes on the copy, test on phone and desktop and check the cart and checkout still work. We then hand over the preview for your approval and publish only when you say so. A copy of the original theme stays in your admin so you can revert.
A good theme is fast, mobile-friendly and already contains the sections you need, so that you customise less. Compare free and paid themes in Shopify's theme store, read the documentation, check recent update dates and test the demo on your phone. Fees for paid themes are set by the theme makers, so check the theme store for current details.
Tell us about your business and we will suggest the right approach and a clear quote. No obligation.
We quote in writing after seeing your store, since a copy change and a custom section are very different jobs. Shopify's subscription, themes and apps are billed separately, so check shopify.com and the theme store. The main factors on our side are:
Related: Shopify store development cost, website speed optimisation, ecommerce website cost, or request a custom quote.
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Theme, apps, speed and what you want changed.
List of changes, what will be editable and price.
Custom sections and fixes made safely.
Phone, desktop, cart and checkout checked.
Go live and a short guide to the new settings.
It is Shopify's visual tool for customising a theme. You can arrange sections and blocks, edit content, and change colours and fonts without writing code.
They are the editable fields a developer defines for a section, such as text, images, colours and checkboxes, so you can control the section from the theme editor.
Often yes. Layout, content, colours and fonts can be changed in the editor. A developer is needed for new sections, special logic or fixing broken code.
It is safer to duplicate the theme first, make and test changes on the copy and then publish. We always work this way.
Small features are often better as custom sections, which load faster and have no monthly fee, while complex features may suit an app. We compare both.
Heavy edits to core theme files can make updates harder. We keep changes in separate sections and files where possible and note what was changed.
Often yes, by removing unused apps and code, compressing images and fixing layout shifts. We cannot promise a specific speed score.
You do. The changes live in your store, and you receive a note on what was built and how to edit it.
Leave your number and our team will call you back with a clear scope, timeline and quote.