Some fields in your synced Airtable base don't hold a normal value like text or a number — instead they hold a GID, a reference pointing to another Shopify object. This article explains what a GID is, why SyncBase requires this exact format, and where you'll run into it.

What is a GID?

A GID (Global ID) is Shopify's internal identifier for every single object in your store: a Product, a Variant, a MediaImage, a Metaobject entry, a Collection, and so on.

It always follows the same structure: gid://shopify//

For example:

• gid://shopify/Product/10372488298805
• gid://shopify/MediaImage/57257873768781

The <ObjectType> tells Shopify which kind of object this is, and the <id> tells it which specific one. Both parts are needed — Shopify can't resolve the reference from the number alone.

Why SyncBase uses GID format for reference values

Most fields you sync (Title, Price, SKU…) store a plain value. But some fields — called reference-type fields — don't describe the object itself, they point to another object. A few examples:

• A metafield of type Product reference, Image reference, or Metaobject reference
• A metaobject field that links to a product or to another metaobject entry
• A variant option value driven by a metafield instead of a standard Shopify Option

This is why the value you see (and edit) in Airtable for these fields looks like gid://shopify/Product/10372488298805 rather than the product's name. It's the same format Shopify itself uses internally, and SyncBase mirrors it exactly so the reference stays unambiguous on both sides.

How to edit a GID reference value

To point a field at a different object, you only need to change the number at the end:

gid://shopify/Product/10372488298805 → replace 10372488298805 with the ID of the object you want to reference.

To find the correct ID:

• From your Airtable synced base — open the related table (Products, Orders, Customers, etc.) and copy the value in the [Object name] ID field.
• From Shopify admin — open the object and copy the number at the end of the browser URL.

Where you'll run into GID references

GID reference values show up in three places across your synced base:

👉 Metafields synchronization: how does it work? — metafields using a reference type (Product reference, Image reference, Metaobject reference…) store a GID instead of a plain value.

👉 How to create a new metaobject entry from Airtable with SyncBase? — a metaobject's fields can themselves reference another Shopify object (a product, or another metaobject entry), using the same GID structure.

👉 How to create a new variant from Airtable with SyncBase? — when a variant's options are driven by a metafield instead of standard Shopify Options, the link between them is a GID reference.

Building these relations directly from Airtable

Reading and editing an existing GID is straightforward. Creating new relations from scratch in Airtable — for example, auto-generating the correct reference every time a new record is created — is a different level of complexity. It usually requires:

• Formula fields or automations that reconstruct the target's GID
• Linked records between your Airtable tables to resolve which object to point to
• Logic specific to your exact metafield or metaobject definitions

There's no single guide that covers every case, since it depends entirely on how your Shopify metafields/metaobjects and your Airtable base are structured.

Need help?

Reach out via the in-app live chat and one of our Airtable experts will take a look at your specific setup.

Updated on: 19/07/2026