# Headless commerce

Concept · [Technical basics](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/technical)

Also called: headless, headless Shopify, headless CMS, decoupled front end

Running a store's products, cart and checkout on one system while building the shopping screens separately. It allows a custom design but takes more work to build and maintain.

**For example:** A brand keeps its products and orders in a commerce platform but builds its own fast, custom storefront that talks to it through an [API](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/terms/api).

## Connects to (4)

- [Front end](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/front-end): The part of an app or website that people see and tap, running in their browser or on their phone.
- [Back end](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/back-end): The part of an app that runs out of sight on a server.
- [API](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/terms/api): Application programming interface.
- [Content management system](https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/content-management-system): Software that lets people create and edit a website's content, such as pages, posts and images, without writing code.

Map view: https://ecosystem.samcarlton.com/headless-commerce