> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ratelab.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Live updates

# Understanding Your Order Data

When calculating shipping rates, your Liquid template has access to detailed information about the order through the `shopify_rate_check` object. This page explains what data is available and how to use it.

## The rate check object

In the top right panel of Rate Lab, you'll see a JSON object containing all the order information Shopify provides. Your Liquid template accesses this data to make shipping decisions.

### Basic structure

```liquid theme={null}
shopify_rate_check
  ├── rate (origin information)
  ├── items (or line_items - the products being ordered)
  ├── destination (shipping address)
  ├── currency
  └── locale
```

## Line items (products in cart)

Access products using `shopify_rate_check.items` or `shopify_rate_check.line_items`:

```liquid theme={null}
{% for item in shopify_rate_check.items %}
  {{ item.name }}         <!-- Product name -->
  {{ item.quantity }}     <!-- How many -->
  {{ item.grams }}        <!-- Weight per unit -->
  {{ item.price }}        <!-- Price per unit in cents -->
  {{ item.sku }}          <!-- Product SKU -->
  {{ item.vendor }}       <!-- Product vendor -->
  {{ item.requires_shipping }}  <!-- true/false -->
{% endfor %}
```

### Common patterns with items

**Calculate total weight:**

```liquid theme={null}
{% assign total_weight = shopify_rate_check.items | sum: "grams" %}
```

**Calculate cart subtotal:**

```liquid theme={null}
{% assign subtotal = 0 %}
{% for item in shopify_rate_check.items %}
  {% assign line_total = item.price | times: item.quantity %}
  {% assign subtotal = subtotal | plus: line_total %}
{% endfor %}
```

**Count items by SKU:**

```liquid theme={null}
{% assign kayak_items = shopify_rate_check.items | where: "sku", "KAYAK-01" %}
{% assign kayak_count = kayak_items | size %}
```

**Filter by vendor:**

```liquid theme={null}
{% assign acme_items = shopify_rate_check.items | where: "vendor", "Acme Corp" %}
```

**Check for specific products:**

```liquid theme={null}
{% assign has_hazmat = false %}
{% for item in shopify_rate_check.items %}
  {% if item.properties contains "hazmat" %}
    {% assign has_hazmat = true %}
  {% endif %}
{% endfor %}
```

## Destination (shipping address)

Access shipping address details:

```liquid theme={null}
{{ shopify_rate_check.destination.country_code }}  <!-- US, CA, GB, etc. -->
{{ shopify_rate_check.destination.province_code }}  <!-- State/province (NY, ON, etc.) -->
{{ shopify_rate_check.destination.city }}
{{ shopify_rate_check.destination.postal_code }}
```

### Geographic logic examples

**Charge more for Alaska/Hawaii:**

```liquid theme={null}
{% assign base_price = 995 %}
{% if shopify_rate_check.destination.province_code == "AK" or shopify_rate_check.destination.province_code == "HI" %}
  {% assign base_price = 1995 %}
{% endif %}
```

**Block PO boxes:**

```liquid theme={null}
{% assign address = shopify_rate_check.destination.address1 | downcase %}
{% if address contains "po box" or address contains "p.o. box" %}
  <!-- Return no rates or a special handling rate -->
{% endif %}
```

**International surcharge:**

```liquid theme={null}
{% assign surcharge = 0 %}
{% if shopify_rate_check.destination.country_code != "US" %}
  {% assign surcharge = 1500 %}
{% endif %}
```

## Currency

The order's currency is available at:

```liquid theme={null}
{{ shopify_rate_check.currency }}  <!-- USD, CAD, EUR, etc. -->
```

Always return rates in the same currency:

```liquid theme={null}
{
  "rates": [{
    "service_name": "Standard Shipping",
    "service_code": "STANDARD",
    "currency": {{ shopify_rate_check.currency | json }},
    "total_price": 995
  }]
}
```

## Product properties and metafields

Items can have custom properties and metafields that you can use in your logic:

```liquid theme={null}
{% for item in shopify_rate_check.items %}
  {% if item.properties.gift_wrap == "true" %}
    <!-- Add gift wrap fee -->
  {% endif %}
{% endfor %}
```

## Advanced: Working with variants

Some rate checks include variant information:

```liquid theme={null}
{% for item in shopify_rate_check.items %}
  {{ item.variant_id }}
  {{ item.product_id }}
  {{ item.variant_title }}
{% endfor %}
```

## Testing different scenarios

In Rate Lab's top right panel, you can edit this data to test how your rates respond:

**Test heavier orders:**
Change `"grams": 500` to `"grams": 5000` on an item

**Test international shipping:**
Change `"country_code": "US"` to `"country_code": "CA"`

**Test high-value orders:**
Change item prices or quantities to create a large cart total

**Test specific products:**
Add or remove items, change SKUs, modify vendor names

## Prices are always in cents

Remember: all price values in Rate Lab are in cents (or smallest currency unit):

* `"price": 1995` = \$19.95
* `"price": 50` = \$0.50
* Your `total_price` should also be in cents

## Next steps

Now that you understand what data is available, explore how to use it:

* **[Shipping Examples](use-cases/index)** - See real-world examples using this data
* **[Cart & Pricing](use-cases/cart-and-pricing)** - Calculate rates based on cart value and weight
* **[Destination Controls](use-cases/destination-controls)** - Adjust rates by geography
* **[Product Qualifiers](use-cases/product-qualifiers)** - Use SKUs, vendors, and properties