Liquid Include Tag

Using Include Tag

Liquid include tag embeds Shopify snippets with deprecated syntax.

Overview of the Liquid Include Tag

The Liquid include tag is used in Shopify to embed reusable snippets of code into your main theme files. This tag allows you to insert a snippet and pass variables to it, making your templates modular and easier to maintain. However, it's important to note that the include tag is now considered deprecated in favor of the render tag, which provides better variable isolation.

Basic Syntax of the Include Tag

The basic syntax for using the include tag is straightforward. You specify the name of the snippet you want to include, optionally followed by variables to be passed into the snippet.

Examples of Using the Include Tag

Here are some examples to help you understand how to use the include tag effectively in your Shopify theme development:

Passing Variables to Snippets

When including a snippet, you can pass a single variable or a variable for each item in an array. This is particularly useful for repeating elements or when you need to include different data sets into a snippet.

Limitations of the Include Tag

The include tag has some limitations, primarily concerning variable scope. Variables defined within a snippet will be available in the parent template, which can lead to unexpected behavior. This is one of the reasons the render tag is recommended nowadays, as it provides better encapsulation.

Transitioning to the Render Tag

While the include tag is still supported for backward compatibility, transitioning to the render tag is encouraged. The render tag offers more predictable variable scoping, making your code cleaner and less prone to bugs.