---
description: 'Learn how to integrate Strapi with the Medusa backend. Learn how to install the plugin and test two-way sync between the ecommerce and CMS services.'
addHowToData: true
---

# Strapi

In this document, you’ll learn how to integrate Strapi with Medusa to add rich Content Management System (CMS) functionalities.

:::info

This plugin is a [community plugin](https://github.com/Deathwish98/medusa-plugin-strapi) and is not managed by the official Medusa team. At the moment, it supports v4 of Strapi.

:::

## Overview

[Strapi](https://strapi.io/) is an open source headless CMS service that allows developers to have complete control over their content models. It can be integrated into many other frameworks, including Medusa.

By integrating Strapi to Medusa, you can benefit from powerful features in your ecommerce store including detailed product CMS details, [two-way sync](#test-two-way-sync), an easy-to-use interface to use for static content and pages, and much more.

---

## Prerequisites

### Medusa CLI

[Medusa’s CLI tool](../../cli/reference.mdx#how-to-install-cli-tool) is required to set up a new Medusa backend.

### Redis

Redis is required for the Strapi plugin to work as expected on your Medusa backend. If you don’t have it installed, you can learn [how to install it in this documentation](../../development/backend/prepare-environment.mdx#redis).

---

## Create Strapi Project

The first step is to create a Strapi project using the Medusa template:

```bash
npx create-strapi-app strapi-medusa --template shahednasser/strapi-medusa-template
```

This creates the Strapi project in the directory `strapi-medusa`.

Once the installation is finished, the Strapi development backend will run on `localhost:1337`. A new page will also open in your default browser to create a new admin user and log in.

![Create User Form in Strapi](https://res.cloudinary.com/dza7lstvk/image/upload/v1668001083/Medusa%20Docs/Strapi/9pFE1Ij_h2dicv.png)

Once you log in, you can access the Strapi dashboard.

### Create a Strapi User

The Strapi plugin in Medusa requires the credentials of a Strapi user. To create a new user, go to Content Manager, then choose User under Collection Types.

![Showing the users under Content Manager](https://res.cloudinary.com/dza7lstvk/image/upload/v1668001096/Medusa%20Docs/Strapi/YyGJPUf_mr5sx7.png)

Click on the Create new entry button at the top right. This opens a new form to enter the user’s details.

![Create User Form on Strapi](https://res.cloudinary.com/dza7lstvk/image/upload/v1668001105/Medusa%20Docs/Strapi/mdMhSlV_vy7ygv.png)

Enter the user’s username, email, and password. Once you’re done, click on the Save button at the top right.

---

## Modify Permissions

By default, created users have the “Authenticated” role. Before you start using the Strapi plugin on your Medusa backend, you must modify this role’s permissions to allow making changes to Medusa’s models in Strapi.

On your Strapi dashboard, go to Settings → Roles → Authenticated. Then, under the Permissions section, expand the accordion of each content model type and check the Select All checkbox.

![An example of modifying permissions on the Product content type](https://res.cloudinary.com/dza7lstvk/image/upload/v1668001116/Medusa%20Docs/Strapi/QgckXqS_wlyxe8.png)

Once you’re done, click the Save button at the top right.

---

## Create Medusa Backend

:::note

You can use the Strapi plugin on an existing Medusa backend, however, existing data (such as existing products) will not be imported. Only newer data will be imported.

:::

To create your Medusa backend, run the following command:

```bash
npx @medusajs/medusa-cli@latest new medusa-backend
```

### Configure your Backend

Once the command is done executing, change to the newly created `medusa-backend` directory:

```bash
cd medusa-backend
```

You must then configure your backend to:

- Connect to a PostgreSQL database, as explained [here](../../development/backend/configurations.md#database-configuration)
- Install and configure an event-bus module, as explained [here](../../development/backend/configurations.md#recommended-event-bus-modules)

### Run Migrations

After configuring the connection to the database, you must run migrations to add the necessary database schema definitions in your database. To do that, run the following command in the `medusa-backend` directory:

```bash
npx @medusajs/medusa-cli@latest migrations run
```

You can optionally seed your database with demo data by running the `seed` command:

```bash
npx @medusajs/medusa-cli@latest seed --seed-file=data/seed.json
```

---

## Install the Strapi Plugin

In the directory of your Medusa backend, run the following command to install the Strapi plugin:

```bash npm2yarn
npm install medusa-plugin-strapi
```

Then, add the following environment variables:

```bash
STRAPI_USER=<STRAPI_IDENTIFIER>
STRAPI_PASSWORD=<STRAPI_PASSWORD>
STRAPI_PROTOCOL=http # Optional
STRAPI_URL=<STRAPI_URL> # Optional
STRAPI_PORT=<STRAPI_PORT> # Optional
```

Where:

- `<STRAPI_IDENTIFIER>` is either the email address or username of the user you created in the previous step.
- `<STRAPI_PASSWORD>` is the password of the user you created in the previous step.
- `<STRAPI_PROTOCOL>` is the protocol of your Strapi backend. If you’re using a local Strapi backend, set this to `http`. The default value is `https`.
- `<STRAPI_URL>` is the URL of your Strapi backend. By default, the URL is `localhost`.
- `<STRAPI_PORT>` is the port the Strapi backend runs on. By default, the port is `1337`.

Finally, open `medusa-config.js` and add the following new item to the `plugins` array:

```jsx title=medusa-config.js
const plugins = [
  // ...
  {
    resolve: `medusa-plugin-strapi`,
    options: {
      strapi_medusa_user: process.env.STRAPI_USER,
      strapi_medusa_password: process.env.STRAPI_PASSWORD,
      strapi_url: process.env.STRAPI_URL, // optional
      strapi_port: process.env.STRAPI_PORT, // optional
      strapi_protocol: process.env.STRAPI_PROTOCOL, // optional
    },
  },
]
```

---

## Run Medusa Backend

Make sure the Strapi backend is still running. If not, you can run the following command to run the Strapi backend in the directory of the Strapi project:

```bash npm2yarn
npm run develop
```

Then, in the directory of your Medusa backend, run the following command to start the Medusa backend:

```bash npm2yarn
npx medusa develop
```

Once you start your Medusa backend, if you ran the `--seed` command when you created your Medusa backend, you’ll see that `product.created` events have been triggered along with similar events. This will update Strapi with the products you seeded.

---

## Test Two-Way Sync

This plugin ensures a two-way sync between the Medusa backend and the Strapi backend. So, if you update data on Strapi, it will be reflected on your Medusa backend, and vice-versa.

### Update Products on Strapi

Try updating any products on Strapi by going to Content Manager → Products and choosing a product from the list. Then, make changes to the product and click Save. If you view the products on your backend now, either using the [REST APIs](https://docs.medusajs.com/api/admin#products_getproducts) or using [the Medusa Admin](../../user-guide/products/index.mdx), you’ll see that the product has been updated.

### Update Products on Medusa

If you try to update products on Medusa either using the [REST APIs](https://docs.medusajs.com/api/admin#products_postproductsproduct) or using [the Medusa Admin](../../user-guide/products/manage.mdx), you’ll see that the product is also updated on Strapi.

---

## See Also

- [Deploy the Medusa backend](../../deployments/server/index.mdx)
- [Create your own plugin](../../development/plugins/create.mdx)
