Excerpts

Featured links

1. Shopify documentation on adding and managing blog posts
2. Shopify documentation on using the rich text editor for content

In the Company XYZ Align theme, use an Excerpt or a read-more break to control the short teaser text shown for blog posts. These options serve different purposes: some Align layouts use one source only, while others follow a priority order.

For blog post editing details in Shopify, see Shopify documentation on adding and managing blog posts

What controls teaser text

Align can use two sources for short post content:

1. The dedicated Excerpt field in the Shopify blog post editor.
2. A read-more break placed in the post body.

They are not interchangeable in every layout. Article cards generally use the Excerpt field, while heroes and accordions can support a read-more break.

Use the Excerpt field

Use the Excerpt field when you need a concise summary separate from the main post body.

1. Article and hero headers. When a supported article, collection, or page hero has no read-more break in its content, it can use the filled-in excerpt.
2. Article cards. Grids, featured blog sections, slideshow article blocks, and related-post layouts usually display a description line only when Excerpt is filled in. This text is shown as plain text, without body formatting.
3. Structured article summaries. A filled-in excerpt can provide the article description where Align outputs structured metadata.

If Excerpt is empty, many card layouts do not show a description line, even when the post body is long or includes a read-more break.

Use a read-more break in the post body

Add a read-more marker in the HTML or code view of the post body to split it into a teaser and the remaining content:

<!-- more -->

For editor details, see Shopify documentation on using the rich text editor for content

1. Content above the marker becomes teaser content in layouts that support the marker.
2. Content below the marker still appears normally on the full article page.
3. The marker is not shown to readers and does not populate the Excerpt field.

Hero priority

For supported article and similar heroes, Align chooses teaser text in this order:

1. Content before <!-- more -->, when the marker is present.
2. The Excerpt field, when there is no read-more break and the field is filled in.
3. No teaser, when neither option is set.

Align does not automatically create a teaser from the first body paragraph.

Show excerpts in accordions

Accordion sections can display excerpt-style content instead of an entire post or page body.

1. Blog posts. When excerpt mode is enabled and the post includes <!-- more -->, the accordion shows only the content before the marker. Without a marker, it can use the Excerpt field when available; otherwise, it may display the full post content.
2. Pages. Page excerpt mode relies on a read-more break in the page body. This accordion behavior does not use a separate page-excerpt field.

Tip

Add a read-more break to posts shown in accordions to prevent long articles from creating oversized panels.

Show summaries on article cards

Article cards are the strictest layout for excerpt content.

1. The description beneath the title appears only when Excerpt is filled in.
2. A read-more break does not supply the card description.
3. Card descriptions use plain text to stay readable in compact layouts.

Full article content

The full article page always displays the complete post body, including content below <!-- more -->. Excerpts and read-more breaks affect teaser surfaces such as heroes, accordions, and cards, not the article body itself.

Search and social sharing

1. Structured article descriptions. When Excerpt is filled in, Align can use it for an article description in structured metadata. Store SEO title and description settings can still affect many sharing previews.
2. Consistent summaries. Use Excerpt when you need one reliable short description for cards and metadata. Use a read-more break when you also want to control teaser length in supported heroes and accordions.

Example scenarios

1. Teaser everywhere. Fill in Excerpt for cards and metadata, then add <!-- more --> to the body when you also want a controlled split in heroes and accordions without duplicating long HTML in the excerpt field.
2. Long post without an excerpt. Cards remain title-only until you add an Excerpt. Add <!-- more --> when you only need teaser content in heroes or accordions.
3. Accordion-only teaser. Enable excerpt mode in the accordion and add <!-- more --> to the post to keep panels short. Without a marker or excerpt, the accordion may display the full article.

Usage notes

1. Use the right editor mode. Insert <!-- more --> in HTML or code view so the comment is stored literally. A visual read-more control may not insert the same marker unless your workflow confirms it.
2. Plan for formatting. Heroes and accordions can retain formatting from the teaser segment, while article cards use a plain-text description.
3. Check other hero templates. Supported page and collection heroes can use the same excerpt and read-more logic as article heroes.
4. Keep teasers self-contained. Optional read more and read less controls can expand long hero excerpts in place, so write teaser copy that remains meaningful when read on its own.