Shopify’s GraphQL Admin API has received a significant upgrade to the segment query language. As of the 2026‑10 release, functions no longer rely on the old “= true” or “= false” pattern. Instead, they use the more expressive MATCHES and NOT MATCHES operators, and the parameter syntax has been expanded to support richer comparisons. This post breaks down exactly what changed, who it affects, and the concrete steps you need to take to keep your customer segments accurate and powerful.
What Changed in the Function Syntax
Previously, a simple segment filter looked like this:
shopify_email.opened() = true
In the 2026‑10 version the same intent is expressed as:
shopify_email.opened MATCHES ()
The key shift is the move from a Boolean equality check to a MATCHES operator that can evaluate more complex conditions. The NOT MATCHES counterpart works for negation, replacing “= false”. For example:
shopify_email.opened NOT MATCHES ()
Expanded Parameter Operators
Functions that accept parameters now let you apply the full suite of comparison operators inside the MATCHES clause. Where you once could only write:
products_purchased(quantity: 5) = true
You can now write richer queries such as:
products_purchased MATCHES (quantity = 5)
products_purchased MATCHES (quantity != 5)
products_purchased MATCHES (quantity > 5)
products_purchased MATCHES (quantity >= 10 AND quantity <= 20)
These new operators unlock scenarios that were previously impossible, such as targeting customers who bought more than a certain number of items, or excluding low‑quantity purchasers from a promotion.
Deprecation of Named Dates
Four convenience date literals have been removed: 12_months_ago, 90_days_ago, 30_days_ago, and 7_days_ago. The recommended approach is to use explicit date offsets, which are already supported in segment queries. The mapping is straightforward:
12_months_ago → -12m
90_days_ago → -90d
30_days_ago → -30d
7_days_ago → -7d
Using offsets keeps your queries future‑proof and aligns them with the same syntax you already use for custom date ranges.
Who Is Affected?
*Developers* – Anyone building custom apps, private integrations, or using the GraphQL Admin API to generate or modify segments will need to update their query strings to the new MATCHES syntax and replace any deprecated named dates.
*Merchants* – Store owners who rely on Shopify’s built‑in segment builder (e.g., for email marketing, flow automations, or loyalty programs) will see the new operators automatically in the UI once the platform rolls out the update. However, if they’ve copied segment filters into scripts or third‑party tools, they’ll need to adjust those copies.
Actionable Steps for Developers
products_purchased). Switch to the MATCHES clause and use the expanded operators (=, !=, <, >, <=, >=).12_months_ago, 90_days_ago, 30_days_ago, or 7_days_ago and replace them with the equivalent offset (-12m, -90d, etc.).Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
| Old syntax | New syntax | Example |
|------------|------------|---------|
| shopify_email.opened() = true | shopify_email.opened MATCHES () | shopify_email.opened MATCHES () |
| shopify_email.opened() = false | shopify_email.opened NOT MATCHES () | shopify_email.opened NOT MATCHES () |
| products_purchased(quantity:5) = true | products_purchased MATCHES (quantity = 5) | products_purchased MATCHES (quantity = 5) |
| products_purchased(quantity:5) != true | products_purchased MATCHES (quantity != 5) | products_purchased MATCHES (quantity != 5) |
| created_at = 30_days_ago | created_at = -30d | created_at = -30d |
| last_order = 12_months_ago | last_order = -12m | last_order = -12m |
Conclusion & Next Steps
The updated segment query language gives you finer‑grained control over customer targeting while simplifying date handling. By migrating to MATCHES/NOT MATCHES and embracing the new parameter operators, you’ll unlock segment definitions that were previously impossible. Take the audit steps above today, test in a sandbox, and push the changes before the 2026‑10 version becomes the default for all stores. Need help refactoring your queries or building a custom segment UI? Reach out to our Shopify Experts community or drop a comment below—we’re happy to assist!
