How to set up customer creation via email in a Shopify store?

Other Questions Shopify
1

I’ve got a Shopify store with a custom email input form. I’m trying to figure out how to create a new customer account when someone submits their email. I’m not sure about the best way to do this.

Should I make a private app to use the Shopify API? Can I use Ajax instead? If I do need a private app, how do I handle the requests between domains?

I’m new to Shopify development and could use some guidance on the right approach. Has anyone done something similar before? What’s the easiest way to set this up without compromising security?

Any tips or code examples would be super helpful. Thanks!

2

For your Shopify store, I’d recommend using the Shopify App Bridge and Customer API. This approach provides a secure and efficient way to create customer accounts without the need for a separate private app. You can implement this directly in your storefront theme.

First, include the App Bridge script in your theme. Then, use the CustomerCreate mutation to add new customers. This method handles authentication and cross-origin issues automatically. Remember to implement proper error handling and email validation on both client and server sides.

Here’s a basic example:

const createCustomer = async (email) => {
  const client = new Shopify.Clients.Graphql(shopDomain, storefrontAccessToken);
  const mutation = `mutation customerCreate($input: CustomerCreateInput!) {
    customerCreate(input: $input) {
      customer {
        id
        email
      }
      customerUserErrors {
        code
        field
        message
      }
    }
  }`;

  const variables = {
    input: {
      email: email,
      acceptsMarketing: true
    }
  };

  try {
    const response = await client.query({
      data: { query: mutation, variables }
    });
    // Handle successful customer creation
  } catch (error) {
    // Handle errors
  }
};

This approach is Shopify-recommended and should meet your needs effectively.

3

yo, i’ve done this before. u don’t need a private app, just use shopify’s customer api with ajax. it’s way easier. u can handle cross-domain stuff with cors headers. just make sure to validate emails server-side too. lmk if u need more help

4

I recently implemented a similar solution for a client’s Shopify store. In our case, we chose to use a private app to securely interact with the Shopify API rather than relying solely on Ajax. We handled the challenge of cross-domain requests by setting up a simple server-side proxy, which allowed our server to manage API calls securely without exposing credentials on the client side.

The process involved capturing the customer’s email on the frontend, sending it to our server, and then having the server use the Shopify API to create the account. Although it required some troubleshooting and careful input validation, the setup proved reliable over time. This method blends security and efficiency and could serve as a practical solution for your store.