We introduce the concept of ‘irrational paths’ for a given subshift and useit to characterize all minimal left ideals in the associated unital subshift algebra. Consequently, we characterize the socle as the sum of the ideals generated by irrational paths. Proceeding, we construct a graph such that the Leavitt path algebra of this graph is graded isomorphic to the socle. This realization allows us to show that the graded structure of the socle serves as an invariant for the conjugacy of Ott–Tomforde–Willis subshifts and for the isometric conjugacy of subshifts constructed with the product topology. Additionally, we establish that the socle of the unital subshift algebra is contained in the socle of the corresponding unital subshift C*-algebra.