> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.valtimo.nl/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.valtimo.nl/configuration-guides/plugins.md).

# Plugins

Plugins extend Valtimo with integrations and custom behavior. The Plugins configuration area covers two kinds:

* **Embedded plugins** — plugins that ship as part of the Valtimo application, such as the ZGW plugins. They are configured on the same Plugins page but require no infrastructure of their own.
* [**External plugins**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins.md) — plugins that run outside the Valtimo backend on a plugin host or as a standalone app, and are installed, permissioned, and updated independently of Valtimo releases.

This section covers:

* [**External plugins**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins.md) — concepts of the admin screens, and how plugin hosts, apps, and plugin configurations fit together
* [**Add a plugin host**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/add-a-plugin-host.md) — connect a plugin host to Valtimo
* [**Add an app**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/add-an-app.md) — connect and configure an app in one flow
* [**Upload a plugin**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/upload-a-plugin.md) — install a plugin package on a plugin host
* [**Configure a plugin**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/configure-a-plugin.md) — activate a plugin and accept its permissions
* [**Manage an integration**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/manage-an-integration.md) — edit connections, event queues, frontend origins, and deletion
* [**Plugin status and reviews**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/plugin-status-and-reviews.md) — what a status tag means and how to resolve a changed plugin
* [**Plugin logs**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/plugin-logs.md) — inspect what a plugin configuration did
* [**External plugins in cases and processes**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/external-plugins-in-cases-and-processes.md) — where configured plugins are used
* [**Troubleshooting**](/configuration-guides/plugins/external-plugins/troubleshooting.md) — symptoms and their fixes

***

## Accessing the Plugins area

{% stepper %}
{% step %}
Expand **Admin** in the left sidebar
{% endstep %}

{% step %}
Under the **Integrations** section, click **Plugins**, **Plugin hosts**, or **Apps**

<figure><img src="https://3330064618-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2Fq5dx9HWFJGshztp4binE%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-16240818546f69579f47238afebf642963fe8ddf%2F05-plugins-page.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption><p>Plugins page</p></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

The three pages divide the work as follows:

| Page             | Purpose                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ---------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Plugins**      | The plugin configurations of embedded plugins and of plugins served by plugin hosts, with their source and host. Configure new plugins and upload plugin packages here. |
| **Plugin hosts** | The connected plugin hosts and their connection status.                                                                                                                 |
| **Apps**         | The connected apps, their connection status, and their configurations — an app's configuration is created and managed here, not on the Plugins page.                    |

{% hint style="info" %}
For an introduction to what external plugins are and how they stay secure, read [What is an external plugin?](/valtimo-fundamentals/external-plugins.md) first.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
Configuring plugins, uploading packages, and connecting plugin hosts and apps all require an administrator role.
{% endhint %}