---
title: Navigation
description: The storefront navigation system - desktop and mobile menus, search, cart access, and optional Shopify-managed links.
url: "https://shop-docs.labs.vercel.dev/docs/anatomy/navigation"
docs_index: /llms.txt
lastUpdated: 2026-10-13
type: guide
---

> For an index of all documentation, see [/llms.txt](/llms.txt).

The storefront provides desktop and mobile navigation, predictive search, and cart access. Links are static by default. Use the [`enable-shopify-menus` skill](/docs/skills/enable-shopify-menus) when merchants need to manage them in Shopify.

## Help shoppers move through the store

A sticky header shows the logo, primary links, search, and cart. On mobile, primary links move into a menu while search and cart remain in the header. The mobile menu closes after a shopper selects a link.

Search opens as a dialog. It shows recently viewed products before the shopper types, then suggestions and matching products as the shopper types. It links directly to products and offers a full results page. It closes after navigation, Escape, or an outside click.

Set `search.isEnabled` to `false` in [Shop Configuration](/docs/reference/shop-config) to remove the search button and dialog; the `/search` results page stays available.

The cart badge shows the current item count and opens the cart.

## Choose how links are managed

The default storefront includes a single Shop link to all products. This is suitable for a small catalog or a navigation structure managed in code.

Use the [`enable-shopify-menus`](/docs/skills/enable-shopify-menus) skill to let merchants manage desktop links, mobile links, and footer columns through Shopify Navigation. Menus can contain up to three levels.

Shopify does not notify the storefront when a menu changes, so menus stay cached until they are refreshed. The skill adds a protected `POST /api/revalidate/menus` endpoint; call it with `MENUS_REVALIDATE_SECRET` after editing menus in Shopify admin.

A floating action bar appears only when it contains an action, such as the agent button.

## What’s next

Enable [Authentication](/docs/anatomy/authentication) to show the built-in customer-account link. Other additions include Shopify-managed menus, promotional bars, and richer desktop navigation for large catalogs. Keep search and cart access easy to reach on every screen size.

---

For a semantic overview of all documentation, see [/sitemap.md](/sitemap.md)

For an index of all available documentation, see [/llms.txt](/llms.txt)

For agent-facing discovery, including API and MCP surfaces, see [/agents.md](/agents.md)