Introducing ShopifyQL: Our New Commerce Data Querying Language

Ranko Cupovic
12 min readintermediate
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Overview

Shopify introduces ShopifyQL, a new querying language designed to make data exploration accessible for Shopify Plus merchants. The article outlines the features of ShopifyQL, including its intuitive syntax, commerce-specific functions, and the ability to visualize data directly from queries.

What You'll Learn

1

How to use ShopifyQL to visualize data directly from queries

2

Why ShopifyQL simplifies year-over-year analysis with a single statement

3

How to perform period comparisons using the COMPARE TO keyword in ShopifyQL

4

When to utilize commerce-specific date ranges with the DURING statement

Key Questions Answered

What is ShopifyQL and why was it created?
ShopifyQL is a new commerce-focused querying language designed to make data exploration accessible to Shopify Plus merchants. It was created to empower merchants to make data-informed decisions without needing a data science or coding background.
How does ShopifyQL simplify data visualization?
ShopifyQL allows users to visualize data directly from queries using the VISUALIZE keyword, eliminating the need for additional tools and manual steps. This feature streamlines the process of generating charts and graphs from query results.
What are the key features of ShopifyQL?
Key features of ShopifyQL include intuitive syntax, the ability to visualize data directly from queries, built-in period comparisons, and commerce-specific date functions. These features are designed to enhance data exploration for non-technical users.
How can merchants perform year-over-year analysis with ShopifyQL?
Merchants can perform year-over-year analysis in ShopifyQL with a simple statement, avoiding the complexity of traditional SQL joins. This feature streamlines the process of comparing sales data across different time periods.

Technologies & Tools

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Query Language
Shopifyql
Used for querying and visualizing commerce data in Shopify.
API
Graphql
Used to access ShopifyQL and underlying datasets for building analytics apps.

Key Actionable Insights

1
Utilize the VISUALIZE keyword in ShopifyQL to create charts directly from your queries.
This feature allows you to quickly generate visual insights from your data without needing to export to other tools, making data exploration more efficient.
2
Leverage the COMPARE TO keyword for period comparisons to easily analyze trends over time.
This functionality simplifies the process of understanding how metrics change over different periods, which is crucial for making informed business decisions.
3
Take advantage of commerce-specific date ranges with the DURING statement to filter your data effectively.
This feature helps you focus on relevant time periods, such as holiday sales, without the hassle of manual date calculations.

Common Pitfalls

1
Merchants may rely too heavily on standard reports and dashboards, missing out on deeper insights.
This happens when users do not explore the underlying datasets available to them, leading to decisions based on incomplete data.

Related Concepts

Data Visualization
Data Querying
Commerce Analytics