“Magento” – the e-commerce web application itself is an industry. Its features and usage are so diversified that needs a developer to acquire specific skills. If you are new into the field of Magento development, this blog post would assist you in understanding the different aspects of Magento system.
To begin with, let’s introduce you with certain common Magento terminologies and their identities.
Interface:
The front-end functionality and visual output of an eCommerce store are determined by a collection of themes known as Interface. If a store owner wants to assign interface on either the store view level or website level, he or she can do it through the admin panel. The store inherits the interface of the website if the interface is assigned in the website-level. Similarly, if the site owner wants to assign an interface per store-view, their stores will carry a unique feel and look.
Website and store:
A website comprises of different stores. It shares the existing customers and also instructs information on shopping cart.
Blocks:
When Magento distinguishes a range of functionalities in the system and creates a modular way to manage it from the both the functional and visual perspective, it takes the help of Blocks. There are two categories of blocks. These include:
Structural Blocks:
These blocks are utilized to assign a visual structure to a store page such as columns, header or footer.
Content blocks:
Content Blocks generate the actual content inside the structural blocks. They represent each feature and functionality in a page. In addition to it, it also employs template files to generate (x) HTML which is inserted into the parent structural block.
Themes:
Themes are a collection of locale, layout, skin files and templates. They create visual experience of your store. Magento has the capacity to load multiple themes at a time. There are two categories of themes:
Default theme:
The primary theme of an interface is the default theme. If an eCommerce business owner assigns an interface to their store, the application spontaneously searches or loads the default theme to the front-end. Store owner can modify this theme if he or she wishes to customize the store design. In order to run an error-free store, the default theme must comprise of templates, skins or layouts.
Non-default theme:
Non-default theme contains theme files which the store can use according to the needs. Non-default themes are used for creating temporary seasonal design modification for a store instead of creating a new set of default theme.
However, as a Magento developer it is very important that you know as how to work with the Magento theme. However, you need to check the theme management in order to maximize your workflow efficiency. This will take your creativity to a much higher level.
Multiple themes:
Working with Magento enables you to load multiple themes at a time. You can even swap between a temporary event design and a default store design.
Minimizing debugging time:
No longer have you had to waste your time looking for the unclosed mark-up scrutinized by a validator. A modular template system is being introduced by the Magneto’s modular backend that reduces the amount of (X) HTML you need to handle at once.
Maximum customisation power:
If the store owner wishes to update the look and feel of his store in the product and the category level, Magento can help to a great extent. Magento provides promotional and marketing power and can offer a unique design for an eCommerce store. Even the store owner can display each of his products in its own customized product info page through Magneto. It gives them the power to customize their product presentation easily on the basis of per-product and per-category.
Uninterrupted workflow:
Magento modules are accessible via template tags from the template file with the help of Magneto’s object-orientated programming. Moreover, as Magento has unique features, you never have to depend on any programmer to help you complete any simple task. In addition to this, you will never have to look for external help while working on this platform. Magento has an extensive network of knowledgeable community members.
Here is a brief idea about how the Magento theme is created.
The two major directories as initial base points:
1st Directory:
App/design/front-end/default/default – You can find the template materials, layouts and translation in this directory.
2nd Directory:
Skin/front-end/default/default – You can find block-specific JavaScript, images and CSS in this directory.
During the theme development, you will have to use PHTML files to make any modifications such as adding divs. However, this might create issues especially when the theme has been developed. Therefore, it is better not to alter the Magento default class. The best course of action is to apply any modification in CSS. The biggest advantage here is that your design will never get affected even if there are modifications being done.
Magento as a powerful tool helps the developer create a flawless eCommerce website with the ability to customize and integrate several features. Reading and understanding the terminologies will help you get a smooth start.
This article is an original contribution by William Johnson.
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