Customer referrals: the parts, in plain words

30 parts and 14 phrases. Apps in this area include ReferralCandy, Smile.io, Friendbuy, Talkable, Yotpo Referrals.

Rewardsreferral.rewardShowWhat the referring customer and the friend each get, and when it is paid.

Reward for the referrerreferral.reward.referrerShowWhat the customer who shared the link receives.

How to extend

EventMany side by sideevent.order.paidA plugin that pays referrers in discount codes or cash reads referred paid orders from the order event.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Points reward`referral.reward.referrer.points`The points reward adds a fixed number of loyalty points, one hundred by default, to the referrer's balance.	Core`modules/creators/referrals/customer-referrals.ts`	Event · many
Discount code reward`referral.reward.referrer.discount_code`A code reward emails the referrer a one-time discount code for their next order.	Plugin	Event · many
Cash reward`referral.reward.referrer.cash`A cash reward pays the referrer money, such as by a wallet transfer or a gift card.	Plugin	Event · many
Bigger reward for more referrals`referral.reward.referrer.tiered`A tiered referral reward raises the reward after the referrer reaches a set number of successful referrals.	Plugin	Event · many

Reward for the friendreferral.reward.friendShowWhat the referred friend receives on their first order.

How to extend

EventMany side by sideevent.customer.createdA friend-offer plugin issues a welcome code when a referred account is created.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Friend discount`referral.reward.friend.discount`A friend discount is a money or percentage discount the referred friend can use on their first order.	Plugin	Event · many
Friend free shipping`referral.reward.friend.free_shipping`A friend free-shipping offer removes the shipping charge on the referred friend's first order.	Plugin	Event · many

When the reward is paidreferral.reward.timingShowThe conditions and waiting period before a reward is granted, and how it is taken back.

How to extend

Core onlyThe hold, the qualifying check and the take-back protect a conserved points balance, so they stay in core.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
First order only`referral.reward.timing.first_order`A referral counts only for the friend's first order; later orders by the same friend earn nothing.	Core`modules/orders/payments/payment-webhook.ts`	Core only
Hold period`referral.reward.timing.hold`The hold waits a set number of days, fourteen by default, after the order is paid before the reward is granted, to cover the refund window.	Core`jobs/referral.reward.ts`	Core only
Fully paid check`referral.reward.timing.fully_paid`The fully paid check grants the reward only when the order has no refund at the end of the hold.	Core`modules/creators/referrals/customer-referrals.ts`	Core only
Take-back on refund or cancel`referral.reward.timing.take_back`A take-back removes a referral reward that was already granted when the friend's order is later refunded or cancelled.	Core`modules/orders/refund-reversal.ts`	Core only

Sharingreferral.shareShowThe personal link a customer shares, and the places they are asked to share it.

How to extend

SlotMany side by sidecheckout.slot.confirmation.below_summary account.slot.home.mainA sharing plugin adds its own buttons, such as email or chat-app invites, next to the referral link.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Personal referral code`referral.share.personal_code`Each customer has a unique referral code, and a referral link record for it is created the first time it is needed.	Core`modules/customers/referral-links.ts`	Slot · many
Referral link`referral.share.link`The referral link is the store address with the customer's code, and opening it marks the visitor as referred and sends them to the home page.	Core`app/r/[code]/route.ts`	Slot · many
Product referral link`referral.share.product_link`A product referral link is the same link with a target page, so the friend lands on the product the customer shared.	Core`app/r/[code]/route.ts`	Slot · many
Copy link button`referral.share.copy_button`The copy button puts the customer's referral link on the clipboard with one tap.	Core`modules/creators/storefront/share-earn-section.tsx`	Slot · many
Prompt after purchase`referral.share.after_purchase_prompt`The order success page shows the customer their referral link and the reward for sharing it.	Core`app/(web)/cart/success/page.tsx`	Slot · many
Email invite`referral.share.email_invite`An email invite sends the referral offer from the store to addresses the customer types in.	Plugin	Slot · many
Share buttons`referral.share.share_buttons`Share buttons open a chat app, a social network or a text message with the referral link already filled in.	Plugin	Slot · many

Trackingreferral.trackShowHow a friend's visit, sign-up and order are linked back to the customer who referred them.

How to extend

Core onlyAttribution sets who is credited for an order, which moves points and money, so it stays in core.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Referral cookie`referral.track.cookie`The referral cookie stores the referring customer on the friend's browser, and checkout copies it onto the order.	Core`app/r/[code]/route.ts`	Core only
Attribution window`referral.track.window`The attribution window is the number of days, thirty by default, that a referral click still counts toward a later order.	Core`platform/config/affiliates.ts`	Core only
Referred sign-up`referral.track.signup`A referred sign-up stores the referring customer on the friend's new account, so orders placed later still count.	Core`modules/customers/ensure-customer.ts`	Core only
Click count`referral.track.click_count`The click count records how many times each referral link has been opened.	Core`modules/customers/referral-links.ts`	Core only
One credit per order`referral.track.one_credit`An order credited to a creator pays the creator's commission only, and no customer referral reward is added on top.	Core`modules/orders/payments/payment-webhook.ts`	Core only

Abuse checksreferral.fraudShowChecks that stop customers rewarding themselves or leaking offers.

How to extend

EventMany side by sideevent.order.paidA fraud-check plugin reads referred paid orders and flags matches for staff while the reward is on hold.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Self-referral block`referral.fraud.self_referral`The self-referral block drops the referral when the friend's email or account is the referrer's own.	Core`modules/customers/ensure-customer.ts`	Event · many
Program on or off`referral.fraud.program_switch`The program switch turns customer referral rewards on or off for the whole store.	Core`platform/config/affiliates.ts`	Event · many
Address and device match`referral.fraud.detail_match`A detail match compares the friend's name, shipping address and IP address with the referrer's and flags orders that match.	Plugin	Event · many
Review before payout`referral.fraud.review_queue`A review queue lists flagged referrals so staff approve or disqualify each before the reward is paid.	Plugin	Event · many
Single-use friend codes`referral.fraud.single_use_code`Single-use friend codes give each friend their own code, so a code posted on a coupon site works only once.	Plugin	Event · many

Reportingreferral.reportShowWhere the customer and the staff see referral results.

How to extend

Assistant toolgetSalesBySourceThe assistant reads revenue and order counts by traffic source, including referral traffic.
SlotMany side by sideadmin.slot.customer.blockA reporting plugin shows a customer's referral results on their admin page.

Part	Litestore today	How to extend
Referral results in the account`referral.report.customer_stats`The account shows the customer their referral link, the orders it brought in and the points it earned.	Core`modules/promotions/storefront/queries.ts`	Assistant toolSlot · many
Referral links list`referral.report.admin_links`The admin referral list shows every customer referral link with its clicks, orders and points paid.	Core`modules/creators/admin/referrals/table.tsx`	Assistant toolSlot · many
Turn a link off`referral.report.link_toggle`Staff turn off a single referral link so it stops crediting new visits.	Core`modules/creators/admin/referrals/link-status-toggle.tsx`	Assistant toolSlot · many

Phrase	Made of
refer a friend	referral.share.link referral.track.cookie referral.reward.referrer.points
give-get	referral.reward.friend.discount referral.reward.referrer.discount_code The friend gets a discount on the first order and the referrer gets a reward once it is paid.
double-sided referral	referral.reward.friend.discount referral.reward.referrer.discount_code
one-sided referral	referral.reward.referrer.points
referral link	referral.share.personal_code referral.share.link
share to earn	referral.share.product_link referral.reward.referrer.points
post-purchase referral	referral.share.after_purchase_prompt
referral tracking	referral.track.cookie referral.track.window referral.track.signup
self-referral	referral.fraud.self_referral
referral fraud protection	referral.fraud.self_referral referral.fraud.detail_match referral.fraud.review_queue
delayed referral rewards	referral.reward.timing.hold referral.reward.timing.fully_paid
friend discount	referral.reward.friend.discount
tiered referral rewards	referral.reward.referrer.tiered
referral invite email	referral.share.email_invite

Customer referrals

What the phrases mean

Phrases left out

Sources