Text fields

Use a text field for short answers like a PO number or a referral name, and a text area for longer ones like a gift message or delivery instructions.

Block	What customers see	Plan
Text field	A single-line text box	Free, Business
Text area	A taller text box for a few lines	Free, Business
Form fields	Several fields of any type in one block, under one heading	Business

All need Shopify Plus. Read how form fields work first for how answers are saved and how to make fields required.

Settings

General

Setting	What it does
Name	Not shown to customers, but used as the key the answer is saved under. See where answers are saved.
Heading	Optional heading shown above the field.
Apply borders	Adds a border around the block.

Field

Setting	What it does
Label	The text inside or above the box, such as “PO number”. Plain text.
Customer must fill field to proceed in checkout	Makes the field required. Also set an Error message.
Apply validation	Checks the answer against a pattern. See validation. Text areas also have Max length (characters).
Apply effect when value changes	Save the answer under your own key, as a metafield, in the order note, or match it to a discount code. See effects.

The Form fields block

Form fields holds several fields in one block, each with its own Field type: Text, Text area, Select/Dropdown, Checkboxes, Checkbox, Radio buttons, Date field, Date picker, Year-month-day, or Phone. Click Add field to add one.

Answers are saved under the block Name, then Name 2, Name 3, and so on, in field order. If you reorder or remove fields later, the keys shift.

Note

Adding a second field to a Form fields block needs the Business plan. On other plans, Add field shows Free limit reached.

Changing a field’s type clears its effect setting, so check effects after switching.

Examples

• PO number for B2B buyers: a required Text field with validation ^PO-\d+$, shown only when B2B customer exists.
• Delivery instructions: a Text area with Max length (characters) of 250 so it fits on a shipping label.
• Gift message: a Text area shown only after a “This is a gift” checkbox is ticked. See the conditional form fields recipe.

Things to know

• Labels can’t use variables, links, or formatting. To add a link, put a Text block above the field.
• Validation needs both Custom regex and Error message filled in, or it’s switched off.
• A required field only blocks checkout if Allow app to block checkout is on for its app block in the Checkout Editor.