The Ultimate Beginners Guide to Magento

Are you planning to become a developer focusing on eCommerce? Then, you need to understand what eCommerce platforms exist. They enable you to build an online store using tools that simplify the process of setting a retail business in motion. 

Magento is one of the major solutions for building online stores. Known for scalability and flexibility, it supports PHP, modern approaches to website development like headless commerce and lets you manage stores of various sizes.

It’s also among the most challenging platforms, so you’ll need to learn the code diligently and gain enough experience to operate it. However, the perks of such a tricky system are the freedom it provides to augment the online shopping experience.

In this article, we’ll review Magento, its requirements, features, and tips on getting started. We’ll also zero in on common pitfalls you may encounter during the development and how to avoid them. And, in the end, you’ll decide whether this platform is worth your attention. Spoiler: It is.

What Is Magento? A Comprehensive Overview

Magento is an open-source eCommerce platform. Open source means no payment when installing it, no hosting out-of-the-box, and no direct customer support from the creators. eCommerce implies that it’s a toolkit for building online stores. But Magento is much more than that.

It stands out from other content management systems for the following reasons:

• flexibility (you can build a unique online store);
• versatility (it’s compatible with various tools allowing you to enrich the default functionality);
• scalability (Magento adapts to the growing business needs and supports advanced capabilities);
• power (its robust architecture is designed to handle complex, high-volume eCommerce operations with ease).

Due to this, Magento is the platform better suited for mid- and large-sized online stores. But smaller eCommerce businesses may also consider it if they plan to expand to bigger markets and international selling. Magento is like a set of building blocks developers use to create tailored shopping experiences.

However, Magento is complex. Online merchants have to address a Magento development company or freelancers to create, design, test, and optimize the website for maximum performance and conversions. If you’re an aspiring developer, learning the Magento tech stack will ensure a stable flow of clients, as there is a lot going on in the eCommerce sphere.

Magento’s Evolution: From Magento 1 to Magento 2 and Adobe Commerce

A lot has changed with Magento since its launch. Initially released in 2008, Magento 1 was a promising invention, but developers took the platform to the next level and introduced Magento 2 in 2015. That marked a complete overhaul. Magento 2 has become faster, more user-friendly, and protected from cyberattacks. Now, Magento belongs to Adobe and provides three packages:

• Magento Open Source (a free basic edition suitable for most eCommerce operations);
• Adobe Commerce (a paid version with advanced capabilities for more complex needs, like B2B features);
• Adobe Commerce Cloud (a paid cloud edition supported by Adobe).

Key Features and Benefits: Why Choose Magento?

What makes developers and companies choose Magento? Its versatility is one of its main attractions. It’s flexible, allowing you to design distinctive stores that stand out. Then there’s the scalability aspect. Magento expands together with your business, no matter how big or small. It’s like having a suit that always fits. It’s convenient, and you don’t have to migrate from one platform to another, with all the associated headaches, such as data migration and the like.

Magento 2 boasts incredible performance. It can manage enormous product lists and intricate catalogs. And thanks to its advanced SEO capabilities, your store will steadily attract the target audience and be among the top results in search.

Yet, you shouldn’t be blinded by its advantages and take into account its drawbacks, too. Magento’s complexity has two sides. Despite endless possibilities, it demands a fair bit of technical know-how. Setting up a Magento site is rewarding but challenging.

Getting Started: From System Requirements to Configuration

Now that you’ve decided to opt for Magento, it’s time to install it on your computer. This section will outline this process, from estimating the system requirements and whether your environment is ready for Magento to configuring the platform.

System Requirements and Pre-installation Checklist

Is your system ready? Go over the following aspects:

• Server configuration: You need a specific PHP version and a compatible operating system like Linux. Adobe recommends using at least PHP 7.4, and the latest supported version is PHP 8.2. MySQL and Apache or NGINX are also part of the equation the server should be prepared for. 
• Magento file system: It ensures data security during installation.
• Database creation: You’ll need to create a database and note down its host, name, user, and password details.

Installation Guide: Step-by-Step Process

First, you’ll need to configure the server environment and check whether the it meets the Magento requirements. Then, download the latest version of Magento on its official website. Choose the installation method: the Web Setup Wizard or command line. The wizard is visual, and the command line is quicker. Run the final check to see whether everything is functioning correctly.

You may need to take additional installation steps if you already have an online store:

• Get or remove extensions with Composer;
• Upgrade the existing Magento version for the latest features and security enhancements;
• Create an M2 migration plan if moving from Magento 1 to Magento 2.

Basic Configuration: Setting Up Your Magento Environment

If you’ve settled on the installation wizard, it’ll guide you through the setup process:

• readiness checks;
• database addition;
• web configuration;
• store customization;
• admin account creation.

Here, you’ll need to adjust the PHP memory limit to at least 756MB. After that, link the Magento installation to the database you created earlier.

Upload files to your server using Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), ideally to the root directory. Configure .htaccess if needed to resolve 500 error messages. Usually, it’s done by adjusting or removing specific lines. After installation, you can manage the store from the Magento admin area using the admin credentials.

Building the Magento Store: Structure, Products, and Permissions

Creating the Store Structure: Websites, Store Views, and Categories

Magento is a go-to choice of marketplaces as it allows you to develop multiple websites and store views under one account. It’s also great for international brands with stores tailored to different countries.

For example, you can have a store view in French for customers in France and another in Spanish for Spain. During setup, you’ll need to configure each store view, ensuring they meet the specific needs of each customer base.

This step also involves organizing products into categories. It’s a must for a pleasing shopping experience. Categories unite similar products and let consumers navigate the store and find the desired goods quickly.

Product Management: Adding and Managing Inventory

Once the store structure is in place, the next step is filling it with products and specific information about them, such as:

• names;
• SKUs;
• prices;
• detailed descriptions.

Synchronize the store with physical inventories and warehouses. This way, the store will update automatically and in real-time if a customer buys a product or if you replenish goods. This information is critical for avoiding stockouts or over-selling scenarios.

User Permissions and Team Collaboration

Your team members should collaborate effectively, but they don’t need equal access to some website parts. Specify who can see what and establish user roles under System > Permissions > All Users.

It’s like giving keys to particular departments. Certain people edit concrete sections, like a marketing team can work on promotional material while the inventory team manages stock levels. No one overlaps or interferes with other tasks.

Customizing the Store with Themes, Extensions, and Custom Development

Selecting Themes

Magento themes determine the store’s appearance. A good theme should be not only pleasing but convenient for users. As such, navigate to Magento Marketplace or a site like Themeforest. Install the theme to match your brand’s aesthetic and customize it to fit your specific needs.

• In your Magento Admin Panel, go to ‘Content’ and then ‘Themes’.
• Click ‘Add New Theme’ and upload the theme files.
• Once the theme is uploaded, go back to ‘Content’, then ‘Design’ and ‘Configuration’.
• Select your store view, click ‘Edit’, and choose the new theme under ‘Applied Theme’.
• Customize the theme’s settings, like colors, fonts, and layout, as per the theme’s options.

Screenshot taken on the official Mageplaza website

Extensions and Plugins

One of the best parts about Magento is the number of extensions it’s compatible with. They make it more versatile and add more functionality to the store, for example:

• payment processing;
• security enhancements;
• marketing tools;
• customer support, etc.

You can find them on the Magento marketplace or third-party providers like Amasty and CreativeMinds. Note: Be reasonable with the number of extensions. Too many modules may slow down store loading and spoil the user experience. It’s easy to install them: 

• In your Magento Admin Panel, go to ‘System’ and select ‘Web Setup Wizard’.
• Choose ‘Extension Manager’ and enter your marketplace credentials.
• Find your purchased extension under the ‘Ready to Install’ section and click ‘Install’.
• Follow the wizard to complete the installation.

After this process, manage and update plugins to eliminate bugs and security loopholes.

Using APIs for Custom Development

Application programming interface (API) enables system components to communicate with one another. You can also use them to create new integrations with Magento and external programs or devices; here is how:

• Access your Magento Admin Panel.
• Navigate to ‘System’, then ‘Integrations’.
• Set up the integration by providing the necessary information and API permissions.
• Activate the integration and copy the access tokens.

Screenshot taken on the official Mageplaza website

That’s how you can sync your physical store inventory with your online Magento inventory, for example, to boost stock management efficiency.

Sometimes, basic functionality and existing extensions don’t cut it. You need custom solutions. That’s where you also need APIs:

• Use the API tokens to authenticate your external application or script.
• Access Magento’s REST or SOAP API as per your requirement.
• Perform custom development.

Magento SEO, Speed, and Security Optimization

SEO and Content Management

Optimizing your Magento store for search engines includes several strategies, such as:

• using keywords to attract relevant audience;
• tweaking the SEO settings in the ‘Marketing’ section of your Admin Panel;

Screenshot taken on the official Mageplaza website

• setting up metadata and sitemaps to help Google crawl the website;
• creating SEO-friendly, clear, and descriptive URLs.

Magento comes with all the essential SEO tools and integrates with Google Analytics. You’ll see where your traffic’s coming from and what draws in your audience. For more capabilities, SEO extensions are at your disposal.

Performance Tuning

Speed is key in eCommerce, influencing user behavior. Slow websites turn customers away. In most cases, Magento stores are extensive, which causes performance issues without due optimization.

Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce don’t come with hosting. So when choosing the provider, find the one that knows Magento inside out. Leverage caching tools, like Varnish or Redis, and work on the store’s frontend and backend:

• compress images before uploading;
• merge and minify JavaScript and CSS with Magento’s built-in tools;
• optimize database settings;
• employ lazy loading;
• implement Magento compilation.

Security Measures and Compliance

Magento cybersecurity is one of the essential parts of the development process. Protect your customers and website so as not to compromise their personal information. One crucial point before we proceed to security tips. If you come across an online store on Magento 1, tell the owner to switch to Magento 2 immediately. Why? Because no further strategy will protect such stores.

As Magento 2 has replaced Magento 1, the older version doesn’t receive security updates. Those who stay on M1 expose their corporate and customer data to cyberattacks. Migrating from Magento 1 to Magento 2 pays off with the latest security patches and other benefits. The security measures are as follows:

• applying Magento security patches;
• enabling reCAPTCHA and two-factor authentication;
• implementing a web application firewall and DDoS protection;
• using SSL encryption;
• backing up the store regularly.

What to Do When Starting with Magento

Common Pitfalls for Magento Beginners and How to Avoid Them

What can go wrong when you develop websites on Magento? The first problem may arise when you don’t dedicate enough time to choosing proper hosting. Magento is resource-heavy and requires a special hosting plan to avoid performance issues.

Ignoring Magento updates is another no-no. They bring new features and security patches, making the system more viable in the face of cyberattacks. The same rule applies to neglecting SEO, mobile optimization, and backups. These strategies bring you more traffic and sales and save you from data loss during updates or unexpected issues, so never overlook them.

Consider the following scenario. A client wants a feature-packed online store, and you jump into complex customizations too soon. It’s also a mistake that will cost you future complications, incompatibility issues, and delays. To avoid such situations, start with basic configurations and add new functionality step-by-step.

When you need help, consult the following resources:

• Magento forums;
• Magento DevDocs;
• Magento Stack Exchange;
• blogs and online tutorials.

Plus, attend virtual and offline meetups and events to connect with experts and Magento users and learn from them.

Real-World Advice from an Experienced Magento Developer

Being a Magento developer for over ten years, here is what I’d like to say. Start simple:

• understand the dashboard navigation;
• set up simple products;
• configure basic store settings (like currencies, tax rules, and shipping methods);
• get familiar with Magento’s layout and design capabilities.

As you gain experience, explore Magento architecture to learn how to customize the system. Prioritize security, updates, and backups.

Wrapping Up

We’ve made a long journey to understand how to build an online store on Magento. From overviewing its key features to navigating the initial setup, we hope that you now know the answer to the ever-pressing question, “To be or not to be?”

Yes, Magento may seem hard. Not all online stores need the many capabilities that Magento provides. At the same time, learning Magento is fascinating, and it certainly brings rewards. With this platform, you not only develop an online store but craft a unique shopping experience.

As we conclude, remember that Magento is about constant growth and adaptation. So, if you’re ready to create websites that resonate with the target audience and stand out from the crowd, Magento is right for you. Keep experimenting, keep learning, and most importantly, stay engaged with the Magento community.

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About the Author

Alex Husar

Alex Husar is a chief technology officer at Onilab, a full-service eCommerce agency with a focus on Magento. With almost a decade of professional experience, Alex has unique expertise in Magento migration, full-stack development, and PWAs creation. He applies both technical knowledge and management techniques to lead Magento and Salesforce projects.

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