> This page is for Developer.

> For clean Markdown of any page, append .md to the page URL.
> For a complete documentation index, see https://docs.bigcommerce.com/llms.txt.
> For AI client integration (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.), connect to the MCP server at https://docs.bigcommerce.com/_mcp/server.

## Backorder messaging is now generally available

Backorder messaging — shopper-facing backorder availability, quantity, and shipping-expectation prompts across the product detail page, cart, checkout, and order confirmation — is now generally available.

* **V3 Settings API**: seven new backorder display settings on `GET`/`PUT /v3/settings/inventory` (`show_quantity_on_backorder`, `show_backorder_message`, `show_backorder_availability_prompt`, `backorder_availability_prompt`, `show_default_shipping_expectation_prompt`, `default_shipping_expectation_prompt`, `show_quantity_on_hand`).
* **V3 Inventory API**: `backorder_limit`, `backorder_message`, and `qty_backordered` on item and location inventory data, including `backorder_limit` as a writable field on inventory settings updates.
* **V2 Orders API**: `quantity_backordered` on order line items.
* **Storefront Cart and Checkout REST APIs**: a `stockPosition` object (`quantityOnHand`, `quantityBackordered`, `quantityOutOfStock`, `backorderMessage`) on physical and digital line items.
* **Storefront GraphQL**: backorder display settings, product and variant inventory fields, cart line item stock position, and order backorder fields.
* **Stencil and Catalyst**: documented context variables and reference file pointers for theme and headless storefront developers.

For details, see the [Backorders guide](/developer/docs/admin/catalog-and-inventory/backorders).