Shopify Order Management

Before writing code

Fetch live docs:

1. Web-search site:shopify.dev graphql admin api orders for order queries and mutations
2. Web-search site:shopify.dev fulfillment order api for fulfillment model
3. Web-search site:shopify.dev returns refunds api for returns processing
4. Fetch https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql and search for fulfillmentCreateV2, returnCreate, refundCreate for current input schemas
5. Web-search site:shopify.dev order editing api for order modification workflow

Order Lifecycle

Created → Paid → Fulfilled → Completed
  ↓         ↓       ↓
Cancelled  Refunded  Returned

Order Statuses

Financial Status

Fulfillment Status

Querying Orders

# Pattern: paginated order query with filter
# Fetch live docs for current queryable fields
query Orders($first: Int!, $query: String) {
  orders(first: $first, query: $query) {
    edges {
      node {
        id
        name
        createdAt
        displayFinancialStatus
        displayFulfillmentStatus
        totalPriceSet { shopMoney { amount currencyCode } }
        customer { id firstName lastName email }
      }
    }
    pageInfo { hasNextPage endCursor }
  }
}

Filter examples: "financial_status:paid fulfillment_status:unfulfilled", "created_at:>2025-01-01", "tag:rush".

Fetch live docs for the full query filter syntax and available displayFinancialStatus/displayFulfillmentStatus enum values.

FulfillmentOrder Model

The modern fulfillment API (replaces legacy Fulfillment):

• Each order has one or more FulfillmentOrder objects
• Each FulfillmentOrder is assigned to a fulfillment location
• Supports third-party fulfillment services
• Lifecycle: OPEN → IN_PROGRESS → CLOSED

Key Fulfillment Mutations

Fulfillment creation requires: fulfillment order ID, line items with quantities, tracking info (number, URL, company), and notify customer flag.

Fetch live docs for FulfillmentV2Input fields and fulfillmentOrderLineItems shape — these are the most commonly misused inputs.

Returns and Refunds

Returns

Return Requested → Return Approved → Items Received → Refund Issued

Key mutations:

• returnCreate — initiate a return (requires order ID, line items, quantities, return reason)
• returnApproveRequest — approve customer return request
• returnRefund — issue refund for returned items

Return reasons: DEFECTIVE, WRONG_ITEM, SIZE_TOO_SMALL, SIZE_TOO_LARGE, STYLE, COLOR, DAMAGED_IN_TRANSIT, OTHER, UNKNOWN.

Fetch live docs for ReturnInput fields and the current list of return reason enum values.

Refunds

Key mutation: refundCreate (requires order ID, line items, quantities, restock type, optional shipping refund).

Restock types: RETURN (back to location), CANCEL (restock), NO_RESTOCK (don't adjust inventory).

Fetch live docs for RefundInput fields — refund shipping, note, and currency options vary by API version.

Draft Orders

Orders created manually by merchants or apps:

• draftOrderCreate — create draft with custom pricing
• draftOrderComplete — convert to real order (charges payment)
• Use for: custom orders, B2B quotes, phone orders, wholesale pricing
• Can apply custom discounts and shipping rates

Fetch live docs for DraftOrderInput fields — custom line items, applied discounts, and shipping lines shape.

Order Editing

Modify orders after creation (three-step workflow):

1. orderEditBegin — start editing session (returns calculated order ID)
2. Make changes: orderEditAddVariant, orderEditSetQuantity, orderEditAddDiscount, orderEditRemoveLineItemDiscount
3. orderEditCommit — apply changes (adjusts payment if needed)

Fetch live docs: Web-search site:shopify.dev order editing api for exact mutation sequence and calculated order fields.

Order Metafields

Store custom data on orders via metafieldsSet (same pattern as product metafields — specify ownerId as the order GID).

Transactions

Payment records on orders:

• Types: authorization, capture, void, refund
• Multiple transactions per order (e.g., authorize then capture)
• Gateway-specific transaction data accessible via order.transactions

Webhook Topics

Fetch live docs for the complete list of order-related webhook topics and payload shapes.

Best Practices

• Use FulfillmentOrder model (not legacy Fulfillment) — it's the current standard
• Always check financial status before fulfilling
• Use order editing API instead of cancelling and recreating
• Implement idempotent order processing (check for existing orders before creating)
• Use webhooks (orders/create, orders/paid, orders/fulfilled) for real-time notifications
• Store custom order data in metafields
• Use query parameter for filtering orders server-side (not client-side filtering)
• Handle partial fulfillments — one order can span multiple locations

Fetch the Shopify order and fulfillment API documentation for exact mutation inputs, order lifecycle states, and fulfillment patterns before implementing.