title: what is difference between settings_data.json and settings_schema.json in shopify
body: <p>What is The difference between settings_data.json and settings_schema.json file in shopify, i can set theme settings by  both, but i will use which one for when exactly? I am giving an example in below where is displayed Setting_schema.json file and Setting_data.json file both but i can understand both are creating same functionality in admin section. But What is the difference between then. Why shopify theme used two type settings json file?</p>
  
  <pre><code>/**Here is Setting_schema.json file :**/
  
  [
    {
      "name": "theme_info",
      "theme_name": "Minimal",
      "theme_author": "Shopify",
      "theme_version": "1.0",
      "theme_documentation_url": "https:\/\/docs.shopify.com\/manual\/more\/official-shopify-themes\/minimal",
      "theme_support_url": "https:\/\/support.shopify.com\/"
    },
    {
      "name": "Layout",
      "settings": [
        {
          "type": "checkbox",
          "id": "enable_wide_layout",
          "label": "Enable wide layout"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Colors",
      "settings": [
        {
          "type": "header",
          "content": "Background"
        },
        {
          "type": "checkbox",
          "id": "theme_bg_image",
          "label": "Use theme background"
        },
        {
          "type": "image_picker",
          "id": "bg_custom",
          "label": "Custom image"
        },
        {
          "type": "radio",
          "id": "bg_image_display",
          "label": "Image display",
          "options": [
            {
              "value": "tile",
              "label": "Tile"
            },
            {
              "value": "stretch",
              "label": "Stretch"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>like this...</p>
  
  <pre><code>/**And Here is Schema_data.json code:**/
  
  {
    "current": {
      "enable_wide_layout": false,
      "theme_bg_image": false,
      "bg_custom": "",
      "bg_image_display": "tile",
      "color_topbar_bg": "#eeeeee",
      "color_body_bg": "#ffffff",
      "color_footer_bg": "#eeeeee",
      "color_borders": "#dddddd",
      "color_primary": "#ab094b",
      "color_button_primary_text": "#ffffff",
      "color_secondary": "#767676",
      "color_button_secondary_text": "#ffffff",
      "color_topbar_text": "#a8003e",
      "color_header_text": "#595556",
      "color_body_text": "#5b5252",
      "color_footer_text": "#555555",
      "color_footer_social_link": "#555555",
      "type_base_family": "'HelveticaNeue', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif",
      "type_base_size": "16px",
      "type_header_family": "Google_PT+Serif_700_serif",
      "type_header_size": "36px",
      "type_accent_family": "Google_Lato_400_sans",
      "type_accent_size": "16px",
      "type_accent_transform": false,
      "type_accent_spacing": false,
      "favicon": "shopify:\/\/shop_images\/color_transparent_500px_81b18ab4-183c-480f-ba6a-529b0e9e665c.png",
      "social_twitter_link": "",
      "social_facebook_link": "",
      "social_pinterest_link": "",
      "social_google_plus_link": "",
      "social_instagram_link": "",
      "social_snapchat_link": "",
      "social_tumblr_link": "",
      "social_youtube_link": "",
      "social_vimeo_link": "",
      "social_fancy_link": "",
      "social_rss_link": "",
      "share_facebook": true,
      "share_twitter": true,
      "share_pinterest": true,
      "social_sharing_style": "normal",
      "checkout_header_image": "",
      "checkout_logo_image": "shopify:\/\/shop_images\/color_transparent_500px_e0d779f9-b33c-47b1-bb14-fb8fde7411d7.png",
      "checkout_logo_position": "left",
      "checkout_logo_size": "medium",
      "checkout_body_background_image": "",...........
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>like this as a example </p>
  
  <p>I can see both outputting theme setting option in admin panel Then what is difference between those?</p>
  
  <p>What is The difference between settings_data.json and settings_schema.json file in shopify, i can set theme settings by  both, but i will use which one for when exactly? I am giving an example in below where is displayed Setting_schema.json file and Setting_data.json file both but i can understand both are creating same functionality in admin section. But What is the difference between then. Why shopify theme used two type settings json file? </p>