The Interactivity API has been a recurring topic in recent WooCommerce updates, and for good reason—it represents a fundamental shift in how we’re building interactive shopping experiences. We have mentioned it quite a few times between release posts and updates, however, this post serves to clarify what the Interactivity API brings to WooCommerce blocks, which blocks currently implement it, and why it matters for the future of WooCommerce development.
Adopting a declarative mindset
The Interactivity API was designed to create fluid, client-side experiences while preserving the power and context of PHP’s server-side processing. This hybrid approach combines the best of both worlds: the speed and responsiveness of modern JavaScript frameworks (React, Vue, Alpine) with the robustness of server-side computation.
For WooCommerce users, this translates into seamless shopping experiences: updating cart quantities without page reloads, displaying an interactive mini cart, filtering products in real-time, and presenting rich product media—all while maintaining the visual integrity of the Block Editor.
The Interactivity API achieves this through a combination of PHP, HTML directives, and declarative JavaScript, effectively replacing jQuery and vanilla JavaScript implementations with a more maintainable, framework-aligned approach. Importantly, it preserves WordPress’s established extensibility model (hooks and filters) while enabling the kind of modern interactivity users have come to expect from contemporary web applications.
Learn more: The initial IAPI Proposal and demo
Inter-block communication made simple
One of the most powerful features of the Interactivity API is its ability to facilitate communication between blocks:
“Blocks can share data, actions, and callbacks between them. This makes communication between blocks simpler and less error-prone. For example, clicking an ‘add to cart’ block can seamlessly update a separate ‘cart’ block.”
This architecture means that blocks from different developers can interact with each other through a standardized interface, opening up new possibilities for third-party extensions and customizations.
Learn more: Interactivity API Core Concepts
Current Interactivity API implementation in WooCommerce
Several WooCommerce blocks already leverage the Interactivity API, particularly those centered around product discovery and purchasing:
- Product Collection – Fully supports the Interactivity API
- Product Filters – Built on the Interactivity API for real-time filtering
- Product Gallery (beta) – New implementation using the Interactivity API
- Add to Cart + Options (beta) – Interactive product options and cart actions
- MiniCart (beta) – Migrated from React to the Interactivity API
Testing interactive blocks
To experiment with these blocks, you’ll need to modify templates in the Site Editor. Here’s how to implement each:
| Block | Location | How to enable |
| Product Collection & Filters | Product Catalog template | Collection has IAPI by default. Add Product Filters block alongside it |
| Product Gallery (beta) | Single Product template | Replace legacy gallery with Product Gallery (beta) |
| Add to Cart + Options (beta) | Single Product template | Either upgrade existing block via Inspector Controls or add new block |
| MiniCart (beta) | WooCommerce Settings | Enable at WooCommerce > Settings > Advanced > Features |
A foundational future for WooCommerce blocks
Going forward, all new WooCommerce blocks will be built using the Interactivity API from the ground up. We’re also evaluating our existing block library to determine which blocks should be migrated from their current frontend implementations.
Paradigm shifts in extensibility
While the Interactivity API provides more extensibility than previous block implementations, it differs from traditional PHP filter-based approaches in important ways:
Editor Experience Constraints
HTML modifications must preserve the block editor’s WYSIWYG experience. We need to ensure that frontend extensions don’t break the editing interface or confuse store administrators.
Store-Based State Management
Frontend functionality is built on stores—state management patterns similar to Redux or Vuex. Developers extending WooCommerce blocks will need to understand how to connect with, extend, and interact with these stores effectively.
Let’s build as a community
While we have initial examples and architectural patterns for Interactivity API extensibility, real-world testing has been limited. This is critical for WooCommerce, where extension requirements are often complex and highly specific to different use cases.
By establishing feedback loops now, we can validate our approach and adjust course before patterns become entrenched in the ecosystem. Your experience and input will directly shape how extensibility evolves for the next generation of WooCommerce blocks.
We encourage you to experiment with the Interactivity API in your projects and share your findings, questions, and suggestions with the community.
Stay tuned to the blog for future announcements and developments with the Interactivity API in 2026.
Find us in the WooCommerce Community Slack, at upcoming live events, and on GitHub discussions so we can work together in building this foundation.
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