Admin Grid in Magento 2: Creation and Customization

• What is an Admin Grid in Magento 2?

• 6 Key Features of Admin Grid in Magento 2

• 5 Core Components of Magento 2 Admin Grids

• 2 Main Creation Methods of Magento 2 Admin Grids

• 4 Advanced Customization Techniques of Magento 2 Admin Grids

• 6 Common Challenges and Solutions of Admin Grid in Magento 2

• 3 Real-World Use Cases of Admin Grid in Magento 2

• FAQs

• Summary

What is an Admin Grid in Magento 2?

An admin grid in Magento 2 is a backend interface. It helps display and manage tabular data within the admin panel.

The interface enables admins to view records in an organized and filterable format. These include products and custom entities.

Magento's UI component system builds the grid. They support features like column sorting and mass actions.

XML files configure each grid. The data provider and collection class backs them, fetching data from the database.

The grids are customizable. It allows developers to add custom columns and filters as needed. It is a powerful tool for managing large datasets in a structured and user-focused manner.

6 Key Features of Admin Grid in Magento 2

1. Permission Control & Role-Based Access

Magento’s Access Control List system ensures that grids respect user permissions:

• Restricts the entire grid to specific admin roles

• Hide mass actions or buttons for certain users

• Show or hide individual columns based on role, if needed

It ensures data security and proper role-based workflows.

2. Mass Action Confirmation & Feedback

• When performing bulk actions, Magento displays confirmation dialogs. It helps prevent accidental operations.

• After you perform actions, the grid displays success or error messages to inform the user. Magento also highlights the affected rows or cells for visual clarity.

3. Customization & Extensibility

Magento admin grids are extensible:

• Developers can add custom toolbar buttons

• Add inline editing features

• Add multi-select dropdowns or other UI components in columns

Magento UI components build the grid. It enables advanced customization to be modular and upgrade-focused.

4. Export Functionality

Grids often support data export in various formats, such as:

• CSV

• Excel XML

Admins can export filtered or full grid data for offline reporting. They can also import it into other systems. Exporting respects current filters and sort orders for consistency.

5. AJAX-Based Interactions

Many Magento 2 grids are AJAX-powered, meaning:

• Applying filters does not reload the entire page

• Sorting is fast and smooth

• Pagination is smoother

It reduces load time and improves the user experience. It is especially true in data-heavy grids such as orders or customers.

6. Custom Columns & Data Presentation

Magento 2 allows developers to add custom columns with any data:

• Static data, such as simple DB fields.

• Computed fields depend on various fields or business logic.

• Action columns, such as edit buttons or a view details link.

Custom columns can also display custom HTML or styling to improve clarity.

5 Core Components of Magento 2 Admin Grids

1. Search & Filtering

• Magento 2 admin grids offer powerful search and filtering capabilities. Configure each column to display filter controls, such as text input or date pickers.

• Admins can combine filters across various columns to refine the displayed data. It helps them locate a specific order or product in large datasets.

• It allows users to narrow down large datasets using various criteria. These include date ranges or text searches.

2. Sorting

• All grid columns support ascending and descending sorting by default. Users click the column header to toggle sorting order.

• Magento remembers user preferences. The grid reloads with the same sorting on the next visit. The system processes sorting either server-side or with AJAX, depending on the configuration.

3. Pagination

• Magento paginates admin grids by default to maintain performance with large datasets.

• Admins can choose how many records to display per page. Pagination ensures that even grids with several records load fast and remain responsive.

4. Mass Actions

• It is one of the most useful features. Admins can select various records using checkboxes. They can take action on all selected items. These include deleting and assigning to a group.

• Magento provides a dedicated mass action panel with configurable options. Developers can extend it.

5. Column Management

• Admin users can control which columns are visible in the grid:

  1. Show/hide columns

  2. Drag and drop to reorder columns

• It also determines what data appears in each column. It includes data types and display formatting.

• Magento saves these preferences per user session. It helps admins customize the grid to focus on the most relevant data for their workflows.

2 Main Creation Methods of Magento 2 Admin Grids

1. UI Components Method

It is Magento's modern and recommended approach for creating admin grids. The method uses Magento's powerful UI component framework to build dynamic, feature-rich interfaces.

Key Advantages:

• Scalable and performant

• Extensive built-in filtering and sorting capabilities

• Easy integration with Magento's existing admin themes

• Support for advanced features like inline editing and mass actions

• Better compatibility with future Magento updates

Challenges:

• The steeper learning curve for beginners

• More complex initial setup

• Requires understanding of Magento's UI component architecture

Best Use Cases:

• Large-scale applications with complex data requirements

• Grids requiring advanced filtering and sorting

• Projects needing long-term maintainability

• Integration with Magento's admin theme system

2. Layout XML Method

The Layout XML method is a legacy approach. It still serves specific purposes and can be simpler for basic implementations.

Key Advantages:

• Straightforward setup process

• Easier to understand for developers new to Magento

• Faster initial development for simple grids

• Direct control over the grid structure

Limitations:

• Limited advanced features

• Less scalable for complex requirements

• Reduced compatibility with modern Magento features

• Needs more manual work for common functionalities

Best Use Cases:

• Simple grids with basic requirements

• Quick prototypes or proof-of-concept projects

• Legacy system integrations

• Developers prefer direct control over the grid structure

4 Advanced Customization Techniques of Magento 2 Admin Grids

1. Adding Custom Columns

• You can add custom columns to any Magento 2 admin grid. It helps display extra data or computed values.

• It involves extending the grid’s UI component XML. It also enhances the data provider with the required fields.

• Examples include adding product images or third-party integration data. You can also style columns with icons or conditional formatting.

2. Implementing Advanced Filters

Magento supports advanced filtering, but developers can take it further:

• Add range filters, such as price ranges or date ranges

• Use multi-select filters, including categories or tags

• Add dependent filters, like one filter updates another

Advanced filters enhance administrative efficiency by enabling more precise data slicing.

3. Custom Actions and Mass Actions

Beyond basic enable/disable/delete, you can add custom actions:

• Export selected records to a custom format

• Trigger email notifications

• Assign records to a workflow stage

You define these actions in the mass action configuration. Use the logic in a dedicated controller. Custom row-level actions can also enhance usability.

4. Role-Based Grid Customization

Use Magento’s access control list and UI component features. It helps customize grids based on the admin user’s role:

• Show/hide columns per role

• Enable/disable mass actions based on permissions

• Restrict row-level actions so that only managers can approve orders

Role-based customization improves security and enforces proper data governance in multi-user environments.

6 Common Challenges and Solutions of Admin Grid in Magento 2

1. Performance Issues with Large Datasets

Grids with thousands of records can load, resulting in a poor administrative experience.

Solution:

• Use pagination and server-side filtering.

• Index heavy columns to optimize query performance.

• Avoid joining too many large tables in the collection.

• Enable AJAX loading to cut full-page reloads.

2. Adding Complex Custom Columns

Displaying computed values or data from various tables can complicate grid configuration.

Solution:

• Use data providers or custom plugins to prepare the needed data.

• Use virtual columns when performance matters. You can compute it at runtime without database joins.

• Cache heavy computed values where appropriate.

3. Mass Action Logic Complexity

Custom mass actions can introduce errors if not validated or transactional in nature.

Solution:

• Use mass actions via transaction-safe service classes.

• Add confirmation dialogs for critical actions.

• Log changes to enable rollbacks if necessary.

4. Role-Based Display Inconsistencies

Incorrect ACL configuration can expose sensitive data or hide necessary columns.

Solution:

• Structure ACL resources and map them to the correct UI elements.

• Test grid views with various admin roles to confirm behavior.

• Use Magento's built-in ACL checks for conditional logic in grids.

5. Custom Filter Logic Not Working

Advanced filters, such as range or multi-select, often fail. It is if it is not connected to the collection.

Solution:

• Extend the filter pool configuration.

• Use custom filter classes to handle non-standard fields.

• Test filters across large datasets to confirm accuracy and performance.

6. Grid Configuration Gets Overwritten on Magento Upgrades

Core grid customizations may get lost or broken after Magento upgrades.

Solution:

• Never edit core grid files; instead, use plugins and XML overrides.

• Document grid customizations.

• Test grids after each upgrade.

3 Real-World Use Cases of Admin Grid in Magento 2

1. Bulk

• Bulk’s admin grid is central for sorting orders by status, such as pending or on-hold. It also helps perform mass invoice creation and shipment processing.

• Filtering by coupon code or sales channel for promotional tracking. AJAX enhances the grid for faster navigation.

• Use custom mass actions to trigger integrations with warehouse systems.

2. Forever New

• Forever New uses Magento to manage inventory across warehouses and retail stores. Configure admin grids to show real-time stock levels and backorder status.

• It also flags low-stock items using conditional formatting. Perform bulk updates to inventory via import/export tools.

• Add custom columns such as “Warehouse Location” and “Next Replenishment Date”. It helps support fulfillment teams.

3. Tom Dixon

• Tom Dixon uses Magento admin grids. It helps manage coupon codes with usage restrictions and expiry dates.

• You can also view campaign participation by filtering orders with promo codes. It also helps export lists for campaign audits.

• Grids also integrate with their email system via modules. It helps track performance and target specific customer segments.

FAQs

1. How do I create a custom admin grid in Magento 2?

You create a custom admin grid using Magento’s UI component framework. Define the grid structure in XML and link it to a data provider and collection class. Customize the grid with columns and actions as needed.

2. How do you add or remove columns in the Magento 2 admin grid?

Change the grid’s UI component XML to add or remove <column> nodes. You can also update the data provider to include extra fields. To hide columns, use layout XML or role-based logic.

3. How do you enable inline editing in the Magento 2 admin grid?

Use the editor configuration within the UI component XML for the desired columns. Define an inline edit form and set the corresponding save URL. Ensure backend logic handles and validates the inline updates.

4. How can I optimize admin grid performance for large datasets?

Enable server-side filtering and pagination to reduce load times. Index heavy columns and avoid complex joins in your collection. Use AJAX-based grid loading for a smoother and faster admin experience.

5. What security considerations should I use for admin grids?

Apply Magento ACL rules to restrict grid access by role. Confirm and sanitize all grid input and output. Control visibility of mass actions and sensitive columns. It depends on user permissions to prevent data leaks.

Summary

Admin grids in Magento 2 are backend tools that display and manage large datasets. The article explores the key points of the interface, including:

• Supports role-based access control, AJAX interactions, and export features.

• Offers advanced filtering, sorting, and customizable columns for tailored views.

• Create grids via UI components or legacy Layout XML based on project needs.

• Advanced customization includes filters, mass actions, and role-based displays.

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