Why and How to Handle Deprecated Components in Shopify Polaris

Introduction:

Shopify Polaris is an essential design system that helps developers create accessible and predictable user interfaces for Shopify apps. As with any evolving system, Shopify Polaris regularly updates to improve its features, which sometimes leads to the deprecation of older components. Understanding the impact of these deprecated components in Shopify and how to migrate to newer, supported solutions is crucial for maintaining the performance and scalability of your Shopify app design.

When building a Shopify app with the latest version of Polaris, it’s important to stay informed about Shopify Polaris updates and the Shopify Polaris replacements for deprecated components. This ensures that your application remains up-to-date with the best practices and performs optimally.

Deprecated Components

A deprecated component in Shopify Polaris is no longer recommended for use, typically because it has been replaced by a more efficient or flexible alternative. Although deprecated components in Shopify may continue to function for some time, they will eventually be removed, which can lead to potential issues if not addressed.

Using deprecated components in your Shopify app development process can accumulate technical debt, making your code harder to maintain and scale. It is therefore critical to identify and replace deprecated components with their recommended replacements to ensure the long-term stability and maintainability of your app.

Commonly Deprecated Components in Shopify Polaris:

Below are some of the most commonly used components that have been deprecated in the latest versions of Polaris.

• Stack. Item: Instead of using Stack. Developers are directed to handle the layout themselves in the Stack component or leverage other layout tools like Grid.
• Lists of resources: Use DataTable or Grid for new collections.
• Legacy card: The new Card component can be used to achieve similar results to LegacyCard.
• Modal: Use App Bridge Modal API instead.
• Navigation:  Please use the App Bridge Navigation Menu API instead.
• Text container: Use BlockStack with gap values of 2, 4, and 5 to replicate layouts.
• Text Style: Instead use a Text component.
• Toast: You can use App Bridge Toast API instead.
• Caption: Instead use a Text component.
• Contextual save bar: Please use the App Bridge Contextual Save Bar API instead.
• Display text: Instead use a Text component.
• Frame: This component is no longer supported.
• Heading: Instead, use a Text component.
• Loading: Instead, use the App Bridge loading API.

Visually Hidden: Instead use a Text component.

Handling Deprecated Components

If a component of Shopify Polaris is deprecated:

Monitor the Polaris Release Notes: Be sure to keep an eye on Shopify’s Polaris release notes in order to see what is becoming deprecated and what alternatives Shopify recommends.

Find and replace deprecated components: When a new version is released, the first thing to do is to find all of its appearances in your project and switch it to an updated one. This avoids possible later problems.

Implementation of the Latest Components

Here’s how you can implement the latest Shopify Polaris components in your app to replace deprecated ones:

1. Toast

Deprecated Component: Toast
New Approach: Use the App Bridge Toast API.

Code Example:

Output: 

Displays a toast notification when the quantity field is missing.

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2: Display Text 

Deprecated Component: DisplayText
New Approach: Use the Text component.

Code Example:

Output: 

Renders a bold heading text.

3. Navigation

Deprecated Component: Navigation
New Approach: Use the App Bridge Navigation Menu API.

Code Example:

Output:

Displays a navigation menu with links to Home, Templates, and Settings.

Conclusion

Keeping your Shopify app design up-to-date with Shopify Polaris updates is essential for building scalable, maintainable Shopify apps. As Shopify app developers, staying on top of deprecated components in Shopify and transitioning to their Shopify Polaris replacements ensures that your app remains compatible, performant, and easy to maintain.

By regularly updating Shopify app components, you ensure your app remains aligned with modern best practices and offers the best experience for merchants and users alike. Always check the latest release notes, refactor your code accordingly, and keep your Shopify apps performing at their best.