Layouts

A layout is the HTML around every page: <html>, <head>, the header and footer. Templates use layout/theme.liquid unless they choose another.

layout/theme.liquid

<!doctype html>
<html lang="{{ request.locale.iso_code }}" dir="{{ request.locale.direction }}">
  <head>
    <meta charset="utf-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <title>{{ page_title }}{% unless page_title == shop.name %} – {{ shop.name }}{% endunless %}</title>
    {%- if page_description != blank %}<meta name="description" content="{{ page_description }}">{% endif %}
    <link rel="canonical" href="{{ canonical_url }}">
    {{ 'base.css' | asset_url | stylesheet_tag }}
    {{ content_for_header }}
  </head>
  <body class="template-{{ template.name | handle }}">
    {% sections 'header-group' %}
    <main id="MainContent">{{ content_for_layout }}</main>
    {% sections 'footer-group' %}
  </body>
</html>

Required output

Object	Where	What it adds
content_for_header	inside <head>	hreflang links, robots meta on previews, analytics and pixels (after consent), the visual editor bridge
content_for_layout	inside <body>	the template’s sections

Set dir from request.locale.direction so the page flips for Arabic. See RTL and Arabic typography.

Choosing a layout

• A JSON template: "layout": "landing" uses layout/landing.liquid; "layout": false renders without one.
• A Liquid template: {% layout 'landing' %} or {% layout none %}.
• A custom page: "layout" in its schema ("theme" by default, "none" for a bare page).
• The password page uses layout/password.liquid when the theme has it.