10 Top eCommerce Trends 2024 to Grow Your Business

Below are the top eCommerce business trends in 2024 that we have discussed in detail. These trends are worth monitoring in the upcoming months.

• The Rise of Mobile Shopping
• Shopping Through Social Media 
• Voice Search Optimization
• Eco-friendly Options
• Chatbots & Automated Communication
• Enhanced Customer Service
• Same Day Delivery
• Personalization in eCommerce
• Real-time Inventory Management 
• Augmented Reality (AR) in Shopping

The Rise of Mobile Shopping

The Dominance of Smartphones

In recent years, smartphones have become the primary device for online shopping. With more people relying on their mobile devices for everyday tasks, it’s no surprise that mobile shopping is on the rise. Businesses need to optimize their websites for mobile users to provide a seamless shopping experience.

Mobile Payment Solutions

Mobile payment solutions like Apple Pay, Google Wallet, and Samsung Pay are becoming increasingly popular. These payment methods offer convenience and security and encourage more customers to make purchases via their smartphones. Integrating mobile payment options can boost your sales and enhance customer satisfaction. For many customers, the best checkout experiences are the ones that offer flexible payment options. It has been reported that approximately 13% of customers abandon their carts if they don’t see enough payment methods available.

Shopping Through Social Media 

Instagram and Facebook Shops

Social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook are no longer just for connecting with friends. They have evolved into powerful eCommerce tools. Instagram and Facebook Shops allow businesses to create online stores directly on their social media profiles. This makes it easier for users to browse and purchase products without leaving the app.

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing continues to be a game-changer for eCommerce. Partnering with influencers who have a strong following can help your brand reach a wider audience and build trust with potential customers. Authentic endorsements from influencers can significantly impact your sales and brand reputation.

Voice Search Optimization

The Growing Use of Smart Speakers

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home are becoming household staples. As more people use voice commands to search for products, businesses must optimize their content for voice search. This means focusing on natural language and conversational keywords.

Optimizing for Voice Search

To optimize for voice search, focus on natural language patterns, consider the questions your customers might ask and conversational queries, and provide clear, concise answers. Voice search optimization can help you appear in featured snippets to increase your visibility and drive more traffic to your site. 

Eco-friendly Options

Sustainable Products

Consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, and they expect businesses to follow suit. Offering sustainable products can attract eco-minded customers and set your brand apart from competitors. Look for ways to source eco-friendly materials and reduce your carbon footprint.

Green Packaging

As reported by McKinsey, sustainable and recyclable/reused packaging is one of the four packaging trends that are expected to grow through 2024. Packaging plays a crucial role in your business’s sustainability. Opt for recyclable or biodegradable packaging materials to minimize environmental impact. Communicating your commitment to eco-friendly practices can enhance your brand’s reputation and appeal to green-conscious shoppers.

Chatbots & Automated Communication

AI-Powered Customer Service

AI-powered chatbots are revolutionizing customer service in eCommerce. These intelligent bots can handle a variety of tasks, from answering frequently asked questions to assisting with order tracking. Implementing chatbots can improve efficiency and provide instant support to your customers.

24/7 Customer Support

With chatbots, you can offer 24/7 customer support. Provide your customers with assistance whenever they need it. This level of availability can enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty, as they feel valued and supported around the clock.

Enhanced Customer Service

Personalization

Personalization is key to delivering an exceptional customer experience. By leveraging data, businesses can provide personalized product recommendations, tailored marketing messages, and customized shopping experiences. Personalization can increase customer engagement and drive repeat purchases.

Real-time Assistance

Offering real-time assistance through live chat or video calls can significantly enhance customer service. The report of HubSpot’s consumer business trends 2024 showed a 45% year-over-year increase in social media users who have sent DMs to get customer service. Customers appreciate immediate responses to their inquiries. As your customers are satisfied, you can expect higher conversion rates and greater satisfaction.

Same Day Delivery

Fast and Reliable Shipping

Fast shipping options like same-day delivery are becoming the norm and among the growing eCommerce trends 2024. Customers expect quick and reliable delivery services, and businesses that can meet these expectations are more likely to succeed. Partner with reliable logistics providers to ensure timely deliveries.

Local Warehousing Solutions

Local warehousing solutions can help businesses achieve faster delivery times. You can reduce shipping times and costs by strategically placing warehouses near major customer hubs.

Personalization in eCommerce

Customized Shopping Experiences

Creating customized shopping experiences involves tailoring your website’s content and layout to match the preferences and behaviors of individual customers. This can include personalized product recommendations, dynamic content, and targeted promotions.

Data-Driven Recommendations

Data-driven recommendations are powered by algorithms that analyze customer data to suggest products that are likely to be of interest. Implementing recommendation engines can enhance the shopping experience, increase average order value, and boost customer satisfaction. 

Real-Time Inventory Management

Importance of Inventory Accuracy

Accurate inventory management is one of the crucial eCommerce trends 2024 for maintaining customer trust and satisfaction. Real-time inventory management systems allow businesses to track stock levels, avoid overstocking or stockouts, and provide up-to-date information to customers.

Tools and Technologies for Inventory Management

Several tools and technologies can help businesses manage their inventory more effectively. These include inventory management software, barcode systems, and RFID technology. Implementing these tools can streamline operations and improve inventory accuracy.

Augmented Reality (AR) in Shopping

Virtual Try-Ons

Augmented Reality in WooCommerce is transforming the way customers shop online. Virtual try-ons allow customers to see how products will look on them before making a purchase. This technology is particularly popular in the fashion and beauty industries.

Enhanced Product Visualization

AR can also enhance product visualization by allowing customers to see 3D models of products and view them from different angles. This interactive experience can help customers make informed purchasing decisions and reduce return rates.

Conclusion

In 2024, the eCommerce landscape will continue to evolve, driven by technological advancements and changing consumer preferences. By staying informed about the latest trends and incorporating them into your business strategy, you can position your brand for success. 

Watch for these eCommerce trends 2024, and you’ll be well-equipped to grow your business in 2024 and beyond.

The post Growing Your Business in 2025: Top eCommerce Trends appeared first on Addify.

The Addify store offers website plugins for various platforms, including WooCommerce, PrestaShop, Magento 2, Shopify, and Shopware. We have a collection of 200+ extensions and have achieved 50K+ active installations across various platforms.  

To boost your ecommerce store in 2024, this is the sale of the year to help you achieve new heights. Add the latest functionality to your website to gain customers and increase sales. 

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Here is a list of some of our popular plugins and the discounts we are offering. The discount code is Addiversary30. 

Avail Limited Time Discounts on Our Exclusive Plugins 

We encourage our customers to benefit from this limited-time offer. As we observe our 5th year in the ecommerce industry, we would like to appreciate the support and belief of our partners and customers who made it possible for us to come this far.  Here is a 30% discount for both new and our loyal customers. 

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The post Addify 5th Anniversary Celebration – View Amazing Deals and Discounts  appeared first on Addify.

In this article, we’ll see the comparison between WooCommerce and Magento, helping you choose the right fit for your online store needs.

WooCommerce

WooCommerce plays well with WordPress, making it easy for people who already use WordPress. It’s simple to use and great for small to medium-sized businesses, with lots of helpful features and add-ons. WooCommerce is a flexible and effective way to set up an online store using WordPress.

Advantages

• Easy for beginners
• Works smoothly with WordPress
• Flexible customization options
• Cost-effective for small to medium businesses

Disadvantages 

• Basic features may need plugins
• Take time to learn some features
• Performance issues for larger stores
• Requires regular updates and maintenance

Magento

Magento is a powerful online store platform that allows you to create a flexible store with ease. Whether you have a small or large business, this extension gives you a wide range of customization options to showcase and sell your products online. Magento is user-friendly and can be adapted to your store management needs.

Advantages

• Customizable for different businesses
• Suits both small and large businesses
• Supportive developer community
• Works well on all devices

Disadvantages 

• Challenging for new users
• Requires strong hosting
• Customization needs advanced skill
• Require regular updates and maintenance

WooCommerce vs. Magento Comparison

Some WooCommerce and Magento comparison points are as follows: 

• Setup
• Design & Theme
• Features
• User friendly
• Security Measures
• Support System
• Pricing Plans
• Extensions
• Speed and Performance
• SEO

Let’s closely examine the detailed comparison between PrestaShop and WooCommerce.

1. Setup

WooCommerce is an easy-to-use plugin that fits right into your existing WordPress website. You go to your WordPress dashboard, add the WooCommerce plugin, and follow a simple setup to start selling stuff online. It’s great for small businesses and beginners because it’s familiar and user-friendly. But on the other hand, Magento is a heavy platform for big online stores. You need to get a dedicated space on the internet (hosting), upload Magento files, and go through a setup process. It is complex but powerful, offering tons of features for large businesses that need an effective e-commerce solution.

In short, WooCommerce is like the easy path that’s quick to get started, while Magento is an advanced platform with more customization for big online stores.

2. Design & Theme

WooCommerce opens up a lot of design possibilities with access to all WordPress themes. This means you can easily find a look that suits your brand and style among the multiple free and paid options available for WordPress. It’s like shopping for a dress that fits perfectly with your WordPress website. You have a bunch of options, and it’s easy to make it look just the way you want. Change colors, names, fonts, layouts, etc. 

Magento also provides a bunch of themes, but they’re mainly designed for big online stores with advanced features. Some themes Magento provides are free. There are also premium options for those who want extra style and functions. WooCommerce keeps things simple and offers plenty of design options. At the same time, Magento gives you a variety of designs and themes for the demands of larger and more complex online businesses.

So, if you want an easy setup with multiple design options, go for WooCommerce. If you’re running a big online business and need advanced features, Magento might be your go-to platform. 

3. Features

WooCommerce

• Easily works with WordPress.
• Offer an extensive range of plugins
• Include several free and premium themes
• Handles unlimited products easily
• Gives strong features for online selling
• Provide customized payment options
• Supports flexible customization options

Magento

• Good for big businesses that need to grow
• Supports unlimited products
• Lets you create a unique online store
• Streamlined APIs for external links
• Provide easy-to-use admin panels
• Easily handles multiple stores and languages
• Offers dedicated theming and layout system

4. User-Friendly

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that provides user-friendly features to handle stores easily. It is known for its simplicity and offering a familiar environment for users who are already comfortable with WordPress layout and working. Just plug it in, and you can manage your products, handle orders, and set up payment easily. Plus, you can make your online store look just the way you want with different themes and add-ons. WooCommerce is a reliable choice for small and medium-sized businesses looking for a stress-free online shop setup.

Magento is a strong platform for big businesses with complex needs. But for someone just starting or looking for simplicity, it might be a bit much for them. You can drag and drop things. Customize and make your store unique as you want to. This platform provides advanced options and is quite great for big businesses. Additionally, for managing products, marketing, and a smooth checkout process, it is reliable and user-friendly. 

If you’re after a smooth ride and simplicity, WooCommerce might be good for you, while Magento is more powerful for big businesses.

5. Security Measures

When it comes to security measures, both WooCommerce and Magento prioritize the protection of online stores, but their approaches are different. WooCommerce, being a WordPress plugin, relies on the security features of the WordPress platform. It benefits from regular updates and patches, and users can enhance security through various plugins and best practices like strong passwords.

Unlike WooCommerce, Magento is an open-source platform that places a strong focus on security measures. It offers new advanced security features such as two-factor authentication, data encryption, and a dedicated security center that provides regular updates. Magento’s reliable security measures make it great for large businesses with complex security requirements.

6. Support System

WooCommerce benefits from the extensive support network of WordPress itself. Its community forums, documentation, and third-party resources contribute to a reliable support ecosystem. People can discover answers to common problems, share their experiences, and get help from a large and different community. On the other hand, Magento has a dedicated support system provided by Adobe, the company behind Magento. This includes customer support, documentation, and a knowledge base. Magento users often have access to additional premium support options, ensuring a direct line to experts for more complex issues.

7. Pricing Plans

Discover the WooCommerce plugin with a free 14-day trial. After your trial period, you can smoothly move to any paid plan for just $1 per month for the first three months. This special offer makes it easy to step into a premium plan. No credit card is needed during the trial, and our support team is available 24/7 to help you every step of the way.

Magento development costs vary by edition. For Magento Open Source, there’s no license cost, and yearly hosting, domain, SSL, and basic design can range from $100 to $500, $10 to $400, $50 to $300, and $0 to $5,000, respectively. Development costs range from $1,800 to $10,000. Magento Commerce has a license cost of $22,000 to $125,000/year, while Commerce Cloud, including hosting, is $40,000 to $190,000/year. 

Total Magento development fees can range from $12,000 to $57,000+ for Open Source, $43,000 to $189,000+ for Commerce, and $60,000 to $247,000+ for Commerce Cloud.

8. Extensions

WooCommerce is known for its simplicity and user-friendly work, making it an excellent choice for businesses without extensive technical expertise. At the same time, its default features are less extensive than Magento. The WooCommerce Marketplace offers a wide variety of affordable extensions suitable for various business needs. More than 250,000 customers use WooCommerce extensions to enhance their revenue and skillfully construct and oversee B2B and B2C stores.

Magento has a wide variety of advanced extensions, perfect for businesses with complex e-commerce requirements. It offers features that need some web development know-how to make the most of them. While they come at a higher price, they deliver a greater level of complexity and functionality. So, if your business is looking for top-notch features and is willing to invest a bit more, Magento might be the ideal choice for those advanced capabilities.

9. Speed & Performance

WooCommerce and Magento are both powerful e-commerce platforms, but they are different in terms of speed and performance. WooCommerce tends to be lighter and faster, especially for small to medium-sized stores. Its smooth working and simplicity contribute to quicker load times, making it an excellent choice for users seeking a user-friendly and efficient solution.

On the other hand, Magento is designed for larger enterprises. While it offers unparalleled flexibility, that may lead to slightly slower performance compared to WooCommerce. Magento excels in managing extensive product catalogs and handling high-traffic loads. It is suitable for large-scale e-commerce operations where performance demands are more crucial. The choice between WooCommerce and Magento is based on the specific needs of your online store.

10. SEO

WooCommerce is a helpful plugin of WordPress that makes it easy for you to control and organize your website content. It gives you a simple way to handle information, take care of details about your content, and use smart strategies to improve your website’s search engine visibility.

Magento is well-known for being strong and flexible, which makes it a top pick for big businesses. It comes with advanced SEO tools that let you tweak things like web addresses, meta tags, and extra info, giving you a lot of power to make your website just right. But if you’re starting, Magento might be a bit tricky to learn at first because it’s more complex.

Final Words

In conclusion, the choice between WooCommerce and Magento depends on your specific online store needs and preferences. WooCommerce offers an easy setup, user-friendly experience, and cost-effectiveness for small to medium-sized businesses. However, it may require additional plugins for advanced features. Magento is a reliable platform for both small and large businesses and provides customization options, a supportive developer community, and strong security measures. But, it demands strong hosting and more time to learn some features. Magento is more suitable for complex, larger stores. 

WooCommerce is all about simplicity and a quick start, while Magento gives you more advanced options. So, decide based on the size, complexity, and specific things you want for your online shop.

FAQ’s

Q: Which is better, Magento or WooCommerce?

When deciding between Magento and WooCommerce, consider the complexity of your business. WooCommerce is user-friendly and ideal for smaller businesses. On the other hand, Magento excels in meeting the crucial needs of larger businesses, offering reliable features.

Q: Is WordPress better than Magento?

WordPress is an easy-to-use platform, which makes it a top choice for beginners. Magento is complex but is better suited for businesses with advanced requirements. The decision between the two depends on your comfort level and the specific demands of your online store.

Q: Is WooCommerce the best e-commerce platform?

WooCommerce is excellent for e-commerce, especially if you’re already using WordPress. It provides you with a smooth working and user-friendly experience.

Which one is better, Magento or Shopify?

Deciding between Magento and Shopify depends on your business size and requirements. Big businesses prefer Magento. At the same time, Shopify is well-known for its user-friendly design, making it a great choice for smaller businesses seeking a straightforward setup.

The post WooCommerce vs. Magento – Which One Is Better? appeared first on Addify.

Add reCAPTCHA to Magento 2 Custom Form:

In this article, we are going to share a 7-step easy solution to add reCAPTCHA to Magento 2 custom form programmatically. Get started with the below-mentioned steps: 

Step 1

Create Addify/HelloWorld/etc/config.xml

Step 2

Goto Admin -> Stores -> Configuration -> Customer -> Customer Configuration -> Captcha and configure. You can able to see new forms value Custom Form

Step 3

Create Addify/HelloWorld/view/frontend/layout/yourroutid_index_index.xml

Step 4

Create Addify/HelloWorld/Block/CaptchaForm.php

Step 5

Create Addify/HelloWorld/view/frontend/templates/captchaform.phtml

You can now see the captcha in your form. You must now use an observer to validate your captcha.

Step 6

Create Addify/HelloWorld/etc/frontend/events.xml

Step 7

Create Addify/HelloWorld/Observer/CheckCustomFormObserver.php

After following the above mentioned steps your captcha would be added and verified at your site. Now you are good to go with it!

The post How to Add reCAPTCHA to Magento 2 Custom Form? appeared first on Addify.

Step 1: Install Nginx

Execute the following command:

apt-get -y install nginx

Step 2: Install and configure php-fpm

1.  Get php-fpm and php-cli installed:

Execute the following command:

apt-get -y install php7.0-fpm php7.0-cli

2. In a text editor, open the php.ini files as follows:

Execute these commands:

vim /etc/php/7.0/fpm/php.ini

vim /etc/php/7.0/cli/php.ini

3. Change the lines in those files to match the following:

memory_limit = 2G

max_execution_time = 1800

zlib.output_compression = On

4. Save your work and close the editor you’re using.
   
5. Use the following command to restart the php-fpm service:

systemctl restart php7.0-fpm

Step 3: Install and configure MySQL

1. Execute the command below:

sudo apt install -y mysql-server mysql-client

2. Enter the following line to secure the installation:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

3. Use the following command to check the installation:

mysql -u root -p

4. By accessing /etc/mysql/mysql.cnf in a text editor and navigating to max allowed packet, you may raise the value for packets that are bigger than Magento’s default.

After that, save the changes to mysql.cnf and restart MySQL using service mysql restart.

To check your set value, type the following command at a mysql> prompt:

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE ‘max_allowed_packet’;

5. Make your Magento database configuration

Install and configure Magento 2

We’re ready to begin after you’ve downloaded Magento 2.

1. To go to the docroot directory, perform the following:

cd /var/www/html

2. Download Magento 2 and save it to your computer as magento2/:

wget https://github.com/magento/magento2/archive/2.3.0.tar.gz

 tar -xzvf 2.3.0.tar.gz

 mv magento2-2.3.0/ magento2/

3. To set directory ownership and file permissions, use the following commands.

cd /var/www/html/magento2

find var vendor pub/static pub/media app/etc -type f -exec chmod g+w {} \;

find var vendor pub/static pub/media app/etc -type d -exec chmod g+ws {} \;

chown -R :www-data.

chmod u+x bin/magento

4. Install Composer on a worldwide basis.

curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | sudo php -- --install-dir=/usr/bin --filename=composer

5. Magento dependencies must be updated:

cd /var/www/html/magento2

 composer install -v

6. Fill up your Magento authentication credentials.
   
7. To instal Magento, type the following in the command prompt:

cd /var/www/html/magento2/bin

 ./magento setup:install --base-url=http://www.dev-magento.com/
--db-host=localhost --db-name=magento2 --db-user=magento2
--db-password=magento2 --admin-firstname=admin
--admin-lastname=admin --admin-email=test@test.com
--admin-user=admin --admin-password=admin123 --language=en_US
--currency=USD --timezone=America/Chicago --use-rewrites=1

Remove http://www.dev-magento.com and add your domain name.

9. Last but not least, change to developer mode to continue with Nginx configuration:

cd /var/www/html/magento2/bin

 ./magento deploy:mode:set developer

Step 4: Configure Nginx

1. To create a new virtual host for your Magento site, use the following command:

vim /etc/nginx/sites-available/magento

2. Make the following configuration:

upstream fastcgi_backend
{

     server  unix:/run/php/php7.0-fpm.sock;

 }

 server
{

     listen 80;

     server_name www.magento-dev.com;

     set $MAGE_ROOT /var/www/html/magento2;

     include /var/www/html/magento2/nginx.conf.sample;

 }

3. When installing Magento, make sure your domain name matches the base URL you choose.
   
4. Save your work and close the editor.
   
5. Create a symlink to activate the host:

ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/magento /etc/nginx/sites-enabled

6. Verify if the syntax is correct:

nginx -t

7. Run the command to restart nginx:

systemctl restart nginx

Step 5: Verify the installation

Now go to your site’s URL in a web browser and double-check it.

The post How To Install Magento 2 In Ubuntu With Nginx? appeared first on Addify.

• MVC
• Front Controller
• Factory
• Singleton
• Registry
• Prototype
• Object Pool
• Iterator
• Lazy Loading
• Service Locator
• Module
• Observer
• Active Record
• Service Contract
• Object Manager
• Injectable Objects
• Non-injectable Objects
• Dependency Injection
• Factory Pattern or Factory Classes
• Proxy Pattern

I will go over essential points and functionalities of each design pattern mentioned above.

MVC

Magento bases itself on an exceptional MVC pattern which uses a configuration layer based on DOM. This causes the configuration application actions to be force-driven by XML in addition to usual Model-View-Controller architecture.

Front Controller

To execute application workflows Magento employs a pattern known as Front Controller. This pattern has one entry point for all requests (index.php).

Factory

This particular method is employed to portray classes. In Magento you can portray a class by calling a suitable method transitioning an abstract name which represents a class group after which a class name follows. Class groups and suitable abstractions are stated in XML configuration files. This is located in the module’s folder

Singleton

This concept draws similarities from Magento class groups and factory class abstraction. A Singleton pattern is expressed for classes and blocks alike.

Registry

A registry is mainly a pattern which makes any data or object publicly available on a global scale to be used by any resource.

Prototype

Prototype is generally applied as an extension of the Magento’s Abstract Factory pattern. It guarantees that a suitable subclass is expressed through suitable types that are allocated to an object.

In simple terms this implies that anytime you want a specific class to be defined through a parent type, this design pattern will come up with the correct class for what you need.

Object Pool

This pattern retains objects ready for repeated use rather than re-instantiating and terminating them once they have filled their purpose. If you’re looking to save on compute cycles and memory consumption, this pattern will be very helpful.

Iterator

Iterator will let an object navigate through another class’s elements. This design pattern passes multiple diverse sets of data without modifying the original structure allowing the iteration.

Lazy Loading

With Lazy Loading you can aim to delay object loading until it is called on. Generally in Magento, this design pattern is with data rather than objects.

Service Locator

Service Locator is a pattern that allows its user to achieve a service by covering the process with an abstraction layer. The user can then retrieve a suitable service even if they don’t know what it is at runtime.

Module

This pattern defines a modular programming that highlights that groups a program’s functionality into independent modules that are also interchangeable.

Observer

In this kind of pattern, an event listener is placed at a particular point throughout the execution of an application. The application will be permitted to “hook” other components into the event listener and implement their code at this point.

Active Record

In the database table, objects represent a row. Objects must have properties that show the columns that represent the table’s structure. They should also have methods to modify the respective properties in the database.

The Use of the Patterns by Magento

The classes which inherit after Mage_Core_Model_Abstract class have a right to save(), delete() and load() ways that agree to modifying, creating, deleting or loading records in a table that connects with the class.
Moreover, Mage_Core_Model_Abstract class inherits from Varien_Object, which is responsible for the magical gifts __set() and __get(). These are a blessing if you want to map columns in a database automatically in accordance to a given object’s properties.
All of the above can be used in Magento 1

Service Contract Design Pattern

A modular or extension based system permits third-party developers to overwrite and customize its core framework. And Magneto 2 falls in this type of system. But, obviously, you can find many issues while performing customizations. For example, developers may begin to find it difficult to keep up with external extension customizations.
To counter such issues, Magento has provided us the Service Contract pattern. A service contract is a combination of interfaces that behaves like a layer connecting the business layer to an end user. Meaning, instead of having an end user exposed to business logic customization, a service contract will serve as a layer in between.
Service contracts improves Magento’s modularity. It can help merchants easily upgrade with durable and well-defined API that Magento or other external modules use. Another benefit is how conveniently it uncovers business logic through SOAP or RESTs interfaces.

Object Manager

Object Manager is made up of a number of patterns like:

• Dependency Injection
• Singleton
• Factory
• Abstract Factory
• Composite
• Strategy
• CQRS
• Decorator
• And others

However, object manager has a huge role to play which is probably why Magento prevents its direct use. Your object manager is accountable for applying singleton, factory and proxy patterns. It automatically triggers parameter to be incorporated in class constructors.

Injectable & Non-Injectable Objects

Now, before we move on, I believe it’s a good time to understand injectable and non-injectable objects.

Injectable Objects

These are object that do not have an identity of their own. For example, EventManager or CustomerAccountManagementService.

Non-Injectable Objects

These are the opposite. They will naturally have an identity, which is why you must know the exact instance you want to work on.

Dependency Injection

A substitute to Magento 1’s Mage is the Dependency Injection. This concept proves that we can inject a dependent object into an external environment as opposed to actually creating an internal one. Now it’s possible to ask for resource at the time an object is created in comparison to making resources when required. You can simplify future testing and modification by mocking needed objects.

Factory Pattern or Factory Classes

Make layer between the business code and object manager with Factory Classes. You do not need to clearly define Factory Classes as they are generated automatically. For Non-Injectable objects it would be preferred to create factory classes.

Proxy Pattern

Proxy classes work on behalf of another class. Sometimes in Magneto 2 they are used instead of resource hungry classes. By exploring the reason behind occurrence of proxy classes, you will better understand what a proxy class does.

We already know that Magento normally uses constructor injection to create an object. When we portray an object in every class it will also portray in its constructor this leads to a chain of instantiation through the constructor. It affects process and performance by slowing it down greatly. So, to end that chain instantiation, Magento applies proxy classes.
Let’s take a look at this code:

Magento\Catalog\Model\Product\Attribute\Source\Status\Proxy
Magento\Catalog\Model\Product\Link\Proxy

In this code above, we used proxy classes for catalogProductStatus and productLink.

Now we run this command below.

php bin/magento setup:di:compile

You have asked Magento to create proxy classes using di.xml on the fly with a few fixed conventions, which substitutes the former object with a proxy class object.

To understand how it works, let’s examine the proxy class.

Some common convention Magento follow while creating proxy:-Namespace of proxy class will be same as original (Magento\Catalog\Model\Product\Attribute\Source\Status)

Proxy class only extends one object i.e, object managerHas magic functions such as __sleep, __wake which are invoked only on certain action and functionsuch as __clone will make an object of original class and will provide the object only when it isneeded (making use of lazy loading design pattern), thus improving the performance of applicationhttps://devdocs.magento.com/guides/v2.0/extension-dev-guide/proxies.htmlPlugins (Interceptors)

Overview

To summarize, an interceptor class, modifies public class function behavior by interrupting a functioncall and implementing a code around, before, or after that function call. This permits extending orsubstituting the performance of original, public methods for any interface or class.

Extensions that aim to intercept and alter public method behavior can make a Plugin class. These are known as plugins.

Interception simplifies and effectively reduces conflicts between various extensions that alter thebehavior of the same method or class.

This interception approach reduces conflicts among extensions that change the behavior of thesame class or method. The class function’s behavior modifies with the class implementation of yourplugin, however it won’t modify the class itself. Interceptors do not conflict amongst each other sincethey can be sequentially called based on a configured sort order.

Limitations:

Plugins cannot be used with any of the following:

– Final methods

– Final classes

– Non-public methods

– Static methods__construct

– Virtual types

– Objects that are instantiated before Magento\Framework\Interception is bootstrappedObjects that are not instantiated by the ObjectManager (e.g. by using new directly). https://devdocs.magento.com/guides/v2.0/extension-dev-guide/plugins.html

– ObjectManager

Overview

Magento application uses object manager to dodge boilerplate code while putting together objectsduring instantiation.

The ObjectManagerInterface achieves an object manager duties in Magento.

Limitations:

The object manager must fill the following responsibilities:

– Creating Objects in proxies and factories

– Implement singleton by reinstate the unchanged shared instance of a class when asked for

– Manage dependency by portraying the preferred class whenever an interface is requested by its constructor

– Automatically portraying parameters in class constructors

The post Magento 2 Design Patterns appeared first on Addify.

1. Magento 2 File Structure

While navigating your root folder, you’ll come across the following files:

• app
• phpserver
• bin
• setup
• generated
• var
• dev
• lib
• pub
• vendor

Like in the image below.

Each individual folder is made up of subfolders that include files. Let’s go through the contents that come with each file.

app

This file consists of Magento’s main code, it contains three key sub-directories, namely:

• design 
• i18n 
• etc

Amongst all of your modules, your customer should be counted in the app/code/<CompanyName>/<ModuleName> directory. You can also find third-party module recommendations here.

• Design

The design sub-directory includes sub-folders along with LESS and CSS files. The following two are examples of subfolders included under design.

app/design/frontend 

This subdirectory is a great place to store customized store themes

app/design/adminhtml 

You can store all admin related themes here.

• i18n

The i18n sub-directory basically stores language packages. It can be helpful for anyone wanting to establish a store supporting multiple languages.

app/code 

Here is where you’ll find core codes for Magento, you can develop and edit custom Magento codes. The availability of this sub-directory is based on your installation method. If you have downloaded the GitHub repository there will be an app/code directory.

However, if you aren’t shown a code subfolder in the app folder, don’t worry, your Magento codes can be found in the vendor file. (Vendor file will be discussed in detail below). If you want to dodge any chance of custom and core modules mix up, you might want to keep all Magento core modules separately saved in the vendor directory.

Use composer to store all of your installed packages. You can save your files under app/code/<CompanyName>, rather than working straight out of this folder and avoid any unnecessary overriding while upgrading vendor files.

• etc

This subdirectory contains interface preferences and class mapping in di.xml configuration. You can find ACL, configuration, admin and admin menu in this folder.

phpserver

• router.php

This sub-directory is a file that you can employ to implement PHP to the built-in server. Please note that, it is not recommended to work in this file to avoid possibly leaving huge security gaps in your website.

bin

This directory includes the Magento file, in other words a CLI script that is executable. With this script you can easily activate certain commands such as disabling/enabling modules, disabling/enabling cache or re-indexing among others.

setup

As the name suggests, this directory consists of all files that are required during setup after installing Magento.

generated

Magneto generated codes are stored under this directory. By default, if you inject a certain class into a constructor Magento will generate a code to make non-existent factory classes.

var

In this folder you will find sessions, cache, composer_home, di, logs, database backups, view_processed, cached error reports and generated classes. You can produce the contents of various subdirectories including var/di after you run php bin/magento setup:di:compile.

• var/log

You will ordinarily find system.log and exception.log files under this sub-directory.

• var/cache

This sub-directory is there for all of Magento’s cache. To clear up cache, its recommended to use the php bin/magento cache:clean command to check out development changes.

dev

This folder holds a few tools and Magento 2 test scripts. It stores functional tests programmed to be run by Magento’s Test Framework.

lib

If you are looking for vendor or Magento library files, this file is what you need. It also has all of Magento’s non-module based codes.

pub

You might want to set this to be your web root on your server, because it basically includes all files that are publicly accessible. The pub directory contains security measures to help you restrict public access. Keep in mind that this folder includes static files generated by your Magento theme.

• Index.php

This is a controller stored under the pub directory. It can be used in production mode to run a file.  

Vendor

The framework core exists in this directory, where you will find no problem in installing additional modules. Any operations carried out in these files uses the composer.json file. The vendor file has no files or folders inside instead composer.json creates folders and files for you. Then you’ll be able to view various packages defined by composer.json.

2. Component File Structure

Now that we have covered the basics, let’s take a look at file structures and component types. Magento is designed to search for component-creating configuration files in targeted locations within the component file structure. To make sure the component type performs the correct function you have to

In order to ensure the component type works properly, you need to pursue predefined file structures.

Root Directory

Any component’s root directory will match its name and contain relevant files and sub-directories.

Based on Magento installation, a component’s root directory can be placed in either of the following two locations:

• Magento install directory/app

  Now this is a logical component development location. You can smoothly create the following environment by cloning the GitHub repository for Magento 2.

  • Apply app/code for modules
  • Apply app/design/frontend for storefront themes
  • Apply app/design/adminhtml for Admin themes
  • Apply app/i18n for language packages

• <Magento install directory>/vendor

When you install Magento 2 marketplace and have EE or CE code downloaded as well, this location will be created by the composer. You can also find this location when you extract an archived compressed Magento 2 to install Magento.

Required Files

Components require:

• registration.php

This file registers a component with Magento. Its root directory, here, will also be used as the component’s name. Hence, components will, by default, be installed in <Magento root dir>/vendor directory.

• etc/module.xml

This file’s job is to define a component’s basic information such as version numbers or component dependencies. Versions numbers are used in order to conclude which data and schemes should be updated when you run bin/magento setup:upgrade.

• composer.json

This file is needed to determine dependencies required by the component at runtime. 

3. Module file structure

You can view a typical module file structure in the image here:

Common Directories

Below are a few common module directories:

• Block

Comprises of PHP view classes module logic Model View Controller(MVC) vertical implementation

• Controller

Comprises of PHP controller classes as a fragment of module logic MVC vertical implementation

• Etc

Comprises of configuration files; specifically the module.xml, which is needed

• Model

Comprises of PHP model classes as a fragment of module logic MVC vertical implementation

• Setup

Comprises of classes for data setup and module related database structure. During install/ upgrade such data is invoked.

Additional Directories

The following folders are great for additional configurations, ancillary functions or other items like plug-ins, localization and layout files.

• API

For PHP classes open to the API

• Console

For CLI commands

• Cron

For cron job definitions

• CustomerData

For section files

• Helper

For aggregated functionality

• i18n

For files of localization

• Observer

For files that execute listener commands

• Plugin

For any required plug-ins

• UI

For files of data generation

• View

For files that consist of design templates, email templates, static view files and layout files.

4. Theme file structure

You can view a typical theme file structure in the image here:

Common Directories

Below are classic theme directories:

• Etc

Comprises of configuration files. These include the view.xml file which has image related configurations for all thumbnails and images.

• i18n

Comprises of translation dictionaries, in the event that there are any

• Media

Comprises of theme preview images

• Web

  Comprises of an optional directory. This optional directory is made up of static files systematized by the following files:

  • css/source

    The source file consists of LESS configuration files that invoke global features from Magento’s UI library. It also has a theme.less file that overrules default variables values.

  • css/source/lib

    This folder consists of files that override stored UI library files available in lib/web/css/source/lib

  • fonts

    Save various fonts to apply to your theme here

  • images

    Here you can view a number of static images

  • js

    This folder is dedicated to your JavaScript files

5. Language package file structure

This is how a directory structure would look like if you needed to operate in the French language:

The top-level directory is the only directory needed for a language pack.

Helpful Tip** to identify the locale, and increase better performance, match the directory name and ISO code.  

Conclusion

To summarize, File Structure has a supreme role in tailoring a Magento 2 website. But as long as you are aware of the functions and purpose of folders n the file structure you can be assured that your component file will operate effectively as soon as you create it.

The post Magento 2 File Structure – Folder, Module Directory Structure appeared first on Addify.

While making this custom extension you will learn how to create a controller, router, block, PHTML files and XML layouts. A blend of these said files will help generate a simple module for Hello World will reflect on the frontend and will be listed in the list containing admin modules.

Before We Start…

Let’s get all our preparations out of the way.

• Go to the Admin Panel and Disable Cache or do it through the command (php bin/magento cache:disable) 
• Enable the Developer Mode with this command (php bin/magento deploy:mode:set developer)

Note: In your App directory check the code folder, if you don’t have such a folder the go ahead and create one.

Without any more wait, let’s just get to the fun part.

Step #1:

With registration.php register yourmodule. Set the file location as:

app/code/Addify/HelloWorld/registration.php

<?php
/**
* Addify Hello World Module
*
* @category Addify
* @package Addify_HelloWorld
* @author Addify
*
*/
\Magento\Framework\Component\ComponentRegistrar::register(
\Magento\Framework\Component\ComponentRegistrar::MODULE,
'Addify_HelloWorld',
__DIR__
);

Step #2:

Make a file and name it module.xml. Define your module version and name in this file. Set the file location as:

app/code/Addify/HelloWorld/etc/module.xml

Step #3:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!--/**
/**
* Addify Hello World Module
*
* @category Addify
* @package Addify_HelloWorld
* @author Addify
*
*/ -->
<config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:Module/etc/module.xsd">
    <module name="Addify_HelloWorld" schema_version="1.0.0" setup_version="1.0.0"/>
</config>

Make a block file. Set the file location as:

app/code/Addify/HelloWorld/Block/HelloWorld.php

<?php
/**
* Addify Hello World Module
*
* @category Addify
* @package Addify_HelloWorld
* @author Addify
*
*/
namespace Addify\HelloWorld\Block;
class HelloWorld extends \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template
{
public function _prepareLayout()
{
parent::_prepareLayout();
$this->pageConfig->getTitle()->set(__('Addify Hello World Module'));
return $this;
}
}

Step #4:

Make a controller file. Set the file location as:

app/code/Addify/HelloWorld/Controller/Index/Index.php

<?php
/**
* Addify Hello World Module
*
* @category Addify
* @package Addify_HelloWorld
* @author Addify
*
*/
namespace Addify\HelloWorld\Controller\Index;
class Index extends \Magento\Framework\App\Action\Action
{
public function execute()
{
$this->_view->loadLayout();
$this->_view->renderLayout();
}
}

Step #5:

Make a frontend router and set your frontName here. You want to make sure that your name is clear and unique.

app/code/Addify/HelloWorld/etc/frontend/routes.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!--/**
* Addify Hello World Module
*
* @category Addify
* @package Addify_HelloWorld
* @author Addify
*
*/ -->
<config xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:App/etc/routes.xsd">
<router id="standard">
<route id="helloworld" frontName="helloworld">
<module name="Addify_HelloWorld" />
</route>
</router>
</config>

Step #6:

Make a file for the frontend template.

app/code/Addify/HelloWorld/view/frontend/templates/HelloWorld.phtml

<?php
/**
* Addify Hello World Module
*
* @category Addify
* @package Addify_HelloWorld
* @author Addify
*
*/
echo 'Hello World';
?>

Step #7:

Now, incorporate a frontend layout handle. This is for your router. The First Letter should be your frontName which you have already set in your router.xml file (helloworld). After the frontName, fill in your folder name (index) and follow that with your controller name (Index).

app/code/Addify/HelloWorld/view/frontend/layout/helloworld_index_index.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!--/**
* Addify Hello World Module
*
* @category Addify
* @package Addify_HelloWorld
* @author Addify
*
*/ -->
<page xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" layout="1column" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="urn:magento:framework:View/Layout/etc/page_configuration.xsd">
<body>
<referenceContainer name="content">
<block class="Addify\HelloWorld\Block\HelloWorld" name="HelloWorld" template="Addify_HelloWorld::HelloWorld.phtml"></block>
</referenceContainer>
</body>
</page>

This completes your simple hello world module. To activate this module, just follow this last step.

php bin/magento module:enable Addify_HelloWorld

To view the module’s output on the front page follow http::yoururl/helloworld

The post Creating a Magento 2 Extension appeared first on Addify.

This number is projected to grow over the coming years. Magento is thus a highly lucrative platform for a rising number of theme designers.

However, most of these people struggle with the theme design process. And one of the key reasons is being unaware of the best practices.

In this discussion, we would cover seven of these. Do stay tuned.

1) To be proficient in the relevant programming languages

HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Python are among the top languages used for theme design.

A deep understanding of these would help you create a theme exactly the way your client wants.

You will be more aware during the design process as you will know the pros and cons of that particular language you are using. 

So, it will make you capable of designing a website that will be straightforward and, most importantly, convenient for the developers to build.

2) To have an in-depth understanding of the magento platform

It is another essential prerequisite that you must keep in mind. You don’t have to be a Magento theme guru.

But you should be familiar with the fundamental aspects of the platform to carry on the designing task.

All platforms like Magento have their own features, process, and functionalities. All of these make a custom theme design unique from others. Having a clear idea about the platform you are working on can be indeed useful.

So while using the Magento platform, you must have an overall understanding of the features, functionalities, benefits, and limitations. Knowing all of these, you will be able to design the theme so that there won’t be any complications while working on the theme for the developers.

3) Knowing the ultimate goal of creating the theme

You are designing the theme for the clients, so you need to know their ultimate goal. It is essential to remember to serve them well.

You have to make sure your design aligns with the ultimate goals of the customer. Only then you will create an impressive design that serves the purpose of it.

Your design needs to meet the expectation of your customers to sustain in the competitive market.

So know in detail what the customers need then try to define the ultimate project goal.

Remember that you are not creating something for yourself; instead, you are creating a product for your customers. So many people will use it for different purposes, and your customers will earn from it. You cannot ignore the end goal here.

4) Implement breadcrumbs in your theme

While browsing through a website, the visitors need to know where they are. You cannot afford to let them get lost while navigating through your site.

Whether they are on a category or product page, they must have a clear idea about it. Any sort of confusion in here would lessen the session time of your website. It would affect the ranking of the site. Ultimately, the conversion rate would suffer in the long run.

So it is better to create a well-designed breadcrumb for your Magento theme.

5) To make the theme responsive

About 60% of the global web traffic is from mobile devices. Thus, it is a ranking factor for major search engines.

Thus, it is imperative that your theme is responsive. That way, websites built using your theme retain their functionality on all devices. They would also have a better chance of ranking for target keywords on Google (and other search engines).

6) To pay attention while using colors

When it comes to conversion, colors have a tremendous psychological impact on the customers.

Designing the website elements with different colors is a good practice. For example, any popup form will have a different color from the base color of the website.

If you don’t choose a different color, it will fail to get visitors’ attention. So, there would be lower chances of converting the traffic into leads.

It is thus crucial that you pay attention to the small details when choosing the color palette for your theme. Reading up on color psychology would help you make informed choice during the design process.

7) To design a winning homepage

For a website, undoubtedly, the homepage is the most crucial page. This is usually the first page visitors land on from engagement ads.

It gives the first impression to the visitors. So it would represent your brand and eventually build trust among potential customers.

The fact is, most visitors would make a purchase decision based on how a home page makes them feel.

It is thus crucial that the home page format of your theme helps convert a significant portion of the site visitors.

CTA placement, sliding speed of the featured images, and image positioning at the optimal real estate are among the key things a designer must pay attention to.

During the design phase, each component of the home page should be a/b tested. This way, you would know what is working the best. It would help avoid resolving mounting issues down the line. Besides, site owners using your theme would enjoy higher conversion and revenue!

Recap

Let us go over the best practices once more.

Those are:

1. Gaining proficiency in the relevant programming languages.
2. Having a solid understanding of the Magento platform.
3. Being clear about the ultimate goal of the theme, you are designing.
4. Implementing breadcrumbs in your theme.
5. Designing your theme to be responsive.
6. Data-driven choice of color palette for your theme.
7. Enhancing the home page format of your theme to maximize conversion for the site owner.

Wrapping up

By following all the above mentioned best practices, you can create a well-functioning and eye-catching Magento custom theme. All these best practices must be kept in mind while designing each element of your theme.

Stay updated and keep working on your skill. It would help you make your themes even more lucrative to people wishing for ecommerce websites.

Author bio:

Ryan Aslatt is a content marketing professional at WebCommander, an Ecommerce web design agency in Australia. He has been helping businesses grow by developing content marketing strategies since 2011. When not busy, he likes to research on current web design trends and online marketing strategies.

The post 7 Best Practices for Magento Theme Design appeared first on Addify.

Listed below are 3 simple ways you can load products from their ID’s with the help of simple codes recommended by Magento.

How to Load a Product by ID in Magento

There are 3 different ways to do so:

• By Factory
• By Object
• By API Repository

By Factory

By default Magento 2’s way of getting products and other models is by factory. It represents an all-new design pattern that can be implemented in the shop software.

Below are the codes you can use to get a product through factory in Magento 2:

class Product extends \Magento\Framework\View\Element\Template
{
  protected $_product;  
  public function __construct(
        \Magento\Catalog\Model\ProductFactory $_productloader

    ) {
        $this->_productloader = $_productloader;
     
    }
    public function getLoadProduct()
    {
        $product_id=7;
        return $this->_productloader->create()->load($product_id);
    }

To get a product by ID, utilize the following command:

	$product = $this->_productloader->create()->load($id);

By Object

The second option that you can use is a process from the time of Magento 1; product by ID using the object method. You will require an object manager instance which will be easily available everywhere as it’s a singleton class. It is highly recommended to save this instance in your __construct method which will help you reduce the number of code lines.

Here are the codes to get a product by ID using the object method:

$objectManager = \Magento\Framework\App\ObjectManager::getInstance();
$product = $objectManager->get('Magento\Catalog\Model\Product')->load($product_id);

By API Repository

Another approach that is not represented in 1.x is based on repositories. They introduce another design pattern that can be utilized to get objects. Use the following code snippet to get product objects:

Lastly, you can use this approach which is based on repositories and is not represented in 1.x. This gives you access to another design pattern that can easily be used to get objects.

Below is the code that will help you get the product objects:

protected $_productRepository;
    ...
    public function __construct(
    ...
    \Magento\Catalog\Api\ProductRepositoryInterface $productRepository
    ) {
        ...
        $this->_productRepository = $productRepository;
        ...
    }

And you can get the product by ID using this code:

$product = $this->_productRepository->getById($id);

The post Magento 2 Product Load by ID appeared first on Addify.