Shopify Back: The Ultimate Guide to Adding a Back Button on Your Shopify Store

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Enhancing User Experience with the Shopify Back Button
  3. FAQ Section
  4. Conclusion

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why some online stores make you feel right at home, navigating through their pages effortlessly? One reason could be the simple yet effective 'Back' button, guiding you smoothly from one page to the back without having to repeatedly hit the browser's back arrow. This small feature significantly enhances user experience, encouraging visitors to spend more time exploring what your Shopify store has to offer. Today, we'll dive into the "how's" and "why's" of adding a back button to your Shopify store, specifically focusing on the popular Dawn theme. Whether you're a budding Shopify retailer or looking to refine your store's navigation, this post promises insightful tips and clear instructions to elevate your site's functionality and aesthetics.

Enhancing User Experience with the Shopify Back Button

Why It Matters

Imagine yourself browsing through a collection of products, clicking on an item for more details. Now, you want to return to the collection page. Without a back button, this simple task becomes unnecessarily complicated, potentially frustrating customers and increasing the chances of them leaving your store. The back button serves as a digital breadcrumb trail, offering a straightforward path to return to previously visited pages, thus improving the overall shopping experience.

Implementation on the Dawn Theme

The Dawn theme, known for its sleek design and adaptability, does not include a back button by default. However, incorporating one is straightforward. The process involves editing your theme's code, specifically by adding a snippet to the "main-product.liquid" file and integrating custom CSS for styling. Here's a step-wise guide to achieve this:

  1. Navigate to the Dawn Theme Code Editor

    • In your Shopify Admin, go to Online Store > Themes.
    • Find the Dawn theme and click on the "Actions" dropdown. Select "Edit code" from the options.

  2. Add the Back Button Code

    • In the code editor, search for main-product.liquid under "Sections" and open it.
    • Place the following code snippet where you want the back button to appear:
      <div class="back-btn__wrapper">
  <a class="back-btn" href="#" onclick="goBackToCollection()">
    <span>Back</span>
  </a>
</div>
<script>function goBackToCollection() {history.go(-1);}</script>
    • This code creates a back button that, when clicked, takes the user to their last visited page through the history.go(-1) function.

  3. Styling Your Back Button

    • To add styles, open base.css or your theme's main stylesheet file located under "Assets".
    • Append the following CSS at the bottom of the file to style your back button:
      .back-btn__wrapper {
  margin-bottom: 12px;
}
.back-btn {
  display: inline-flex;
  align-items: center;
  padding: 10px 15px;
  background-color: #f0f0f0;
  border-radius: 26px;
  text-decoration: none;
  color: #333;
}
.back-btn:hover {
  background-color: #e2e2e2;
}
    • Adjust the styling to match your theme's aesthetics.

Best Practices

  • Location Matters: Ideally, position the back button at the top left corner of the product page, making it visible and accessible without distracting from the product details.
  • Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure the button's visibility and functionality across devices. Consider hiding the button on mobile if it conflicts with the native browser's back function.
  • Consistency Is Key: Use consistent styling and placement for the back button across all pages for a cohesive look.

FAQ Section

Q: Will adding a back button affect my store's speed?
A: No, adding a simple back button using HTML and CSS should not impact your store's loading speed.

Q: Can I use images for the back button instead of text?
A: Yes, you can replace the <span>Back</span> part of the code with an <img> tag that points to your desired back arrow image.

Q: How can I ensure the back button doesn't appear on the homepage?
A: Use Shopify's Liquid if statement to check the current page type and conditionally render the back button only on product and collection pages.

Q: Is there a way to make the back button return to a specific page instead of the previous one?
A: Yes, instead of using the history.go(-1) function, you can directly link to a specific URL in the <a> tag's href attribute. However, this defeats the dynamic nature of the back button and may not be ideal for all situations.

Conclusion

Integrating a back button into your Shopify store, especially when using themes like Dawn, is a simple yet effective way to enhance navigation and improve the overall user experience. By following the steps and best practices outlined above, you can create a smoother browsing experience for your customers, encouraging them to explore more of what your store has to offer. Remember, the key to a successful online store lies not just in the products you offer but also in how easily and pleasantly customers can interact with your site. Happy coding, and here's to creating more user-friendly Shopify stores!

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