---
title: "Architecture"
description: "How plugins extend agents - the mental model"
---

## How Plugins Work

A plugin is a bundle of capabilities you drop into an agent. No inheritance, no complex wiring - just a manifest that says "here are my actions, providers, and services."

```typescript
// That's the entire contract
const myPlugin: Plugin = {
  name: 'my-plugin',
  actions: [...],     // What the agent can DO
  providers: [...],   // What the agent can SEE
  services: [...],    // What the agent can CONNECT to
};
```

<Tip>
  **One plugin, one concern.** X integration? Plugin. Blockchain actions?
  Plugin. Custom memory? Plugin. Keep them focused and composable.
</Tip>

## Overview

The elizaOS plugin system is a modular extension mechanism that allows developers to add functionality to agents through a well-defined interface. Plugins enhance AI agents with new capabilities, integrations, and behaviors.

### What Can Plugins Do?

- **Platform Integrations**: Connect to Discord, Telegram, Slack, X, etc.
- **LLM Providers**: Integrate different AI models (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.)
- **Blockchain/DeFi**: Execute transactions, manage wallets, interact with smart contracts
- **Data Sources**: Connect to databases, APIs, or external services
- **Custom Actions**: Define new agent behaviors and capabilities

<Tip>**Guide**: [Create a Plugin](/guides/create-a-plugin)</Tip>

## Plugin Interface

Every plugin must implement the core `Plugin` interface, which defines the structure and capabilities of a plugin. The interface includes:

- **Identity**: `name` and `description` to identify the plugin
- **Initialization**: Optional `init` function for setup logic
- **Components**: Arrays of `actions`, `providers`, `evaluators`, and `services`
- **Configuration**: Settings and environment variables via `config`
- **Extensions**: Optional database adapters, model handlers, routes, and event handlers
- **Dependencies**: Other plugins this plugin requires
- **Priority**: Loading order when multiple plugins are present

For the complete TypeScript interface definition, see [Plugin Reference](/plugins/reference#plugin-interface).

## Plugin Initialization Lifecycle

Based on the runtime implementation, the initialization process follows a specific order:

### 1. Plugin Registration (`registerPlugin` method)

When a plugin is registered with the runtime:

1. Validates plugin has a name
2. Checks for duplicate plugins
3. Adds to active plugins list
4. Calls plugin's `init()` method if present
5. Handles configuration errors gracefully

### 2. Component Registration Order

Components are registered in this specific sequence. For component details, see [Plugin Components](/plugins/components).

```typescript
// 1. Database adapter (if provided)
if (plugin.adapter) {
  this.registerDatabaseAdapter(plugin.adapter);
}

// 2. Actions
if (plugin.actions) {
  for (const action of plugin.actions) {
    this.registerAction(action);
  }
}

// 3. Evaluators
if (plugin.evaluators) {
  for (const evaluator of plugin.evaluators) {
    this.registerEvaluator(evaluator);
  }
}

// 4. Providers
if (plugin.providers) {
  for (const provider of plugin.providers) {
    this.registerProvider(provider);
  }
}

// 5. Models
if (plugin.models) {
  for (const [modelType, handler] of Object.entries(plugin.models)) {
    this.registerModel(modelType, handler, plugin.name, plugin.priority);
  }
}

// 6. Routes
if (plugin.routes) {
  for (const route of plugin.routes) {
    this.routes.push(route);
  }
}

// 7. Events
if (plugin.events) {
  for (const [eventName, eventHandlers] of Object.entries(plugin.events)) {
    for (const eventHandler of eventHandlers) {
      this.registerEvent(eventName, eventHandler);
    }
  }
}

// 8. Services (delayed if runtime not initialized)
if (plugin.services) {
  for (const service of plugin.services) {
    if (this.isInitialized) {
      await this.registerService(service);
    } else {
      this.servicesInitQueue.add(service);
    }
  }
}
```

## Route Definitions for HTTP Endpoints

Plugins can expose HTTP endpoints through the route system:

```typescript
export type Route = {
  type: "GET" | "POST" | "PUT" | "PATCH" | "DELETE" | "STATIC";
  path: string;
  filePath?: string; // For static files
  public?: boolean; // Public access
  name?: string; // Route name
  handler?: (
    req: RouteRequest,
    res: RouteResponse,
    runtime: IAgentRuntime,
  ) => Promise<void>;
  isMultipart?: boolean; // File uploads
};
```

Example route implementation:

```typescript
routes: [
  {
    name: "hello-world-route",
    path: "/helloworld",
    type: "GET",
    handler: async (_req: RouteRequest, res: RouteResponse) => {
      res.json({ message: "Hello World!" });
    },
  },
];
```

## Event System Integration

Plugins can handle system events through the event system:

### Event Types

Standard events include:

- World events: WORLD_JOINED, WORLD_CONNECTED, WORLD_LEFT
- Entity events: ENTITY_JOINED, ENTITY_LEFT, ENTITY_UPDATED
- Room events: ROOM_JOINED, ROOM_LEFT
- Message events: MESSAGE_RECEIVED, MESSAGE_SENT, MESSAGE_DELETED
- Voice events: VOICE_MESSAGE_RECEIVED, VOICE_MESSAGE_SENT
- Run events: RUN_STARTED, RUN_ENDED, RUN_TIMEOUT
- Action/Evaluator events: ACTION_STARTED/COMPLETED, EVALUATOR_STARTED/COMPLETED
- Model events: MODEL_USED

### Plugin Event Handlers

```typescript
export type PluginEvents = {
  [K in keyof EventPayloadMap]?: EventHandler<K>[];
} & {
  [key: string]: ((params: EventPayloadMap[keyof EventPayloadMap]) => Promise<void>)[];
};
```

## Database Adapter Plugins

Plugins can provide database adapters for custom storage backends:

The IDatabaseAdapter interface is extensive, including methods for:

- Agents, Entities, Components
- Memories (with embeddings)
- Rooms, Participants
- Relationships
- Tasks
- Caching
- Logs

Example database adapter plugin:

```typescript
export const plugin: Plugin = {
  name: "@elizaos/plugin-sql",
  description:
    "A plugin for SQL database access with dynamic schema migrations",
  priority: 0,
  schema,
  init: async (_, runtime: IAgentRuntime) => {
    const dbAdapter = createDatabaseAdapter(config, runtime.agentId);
    runtime.registerDatabaseAdapter(dbAdapter);
  },
};
```

## Plugin Priority System

Plugins can specify a priority to control loading order:

- Higher priority plugins are loaded first
- Useful for plugins that provide fundamental services
- Model handlers use priority to determine which provider handles a model type

```typescript
export const myPlugin: Plugin = {
  name: "high-priority-plugin",
  priority: 100, // Loads before lower priority plugins
  // ...
};
```

## Plugin Dependencies

Plugins can declare dependencies on other plugins:

```typescript
export const myPlugin: Plugin = {
  name: "my-plugin",
  dependencies: ["@elizaos/plugin-sql"],
  testDependencies: ["@elizaos/plugin-test-utils"],
  // ...
};
```

The runtime ensures dependencies are loaded before dependent plugins.

## Plugin Configuration

Plugins can accept configuration through multiple mechanisms:

### 1. Environment Variables

```typescript
init: async (config, runtime) => {
  const apiKey = runtime.getSetting("MY_API_KEY");
  if (!apiKey) {
    throw new Error("MY_API_KEY not configured");
  }
};
```

### 2. Config Object

```typescript
export const myPlugin: Plugin = {
  name: "my-plugin",
  config: {
    defaultTimeout: 5000,
    retryAttempts: 3,
  },
  // ...
};
```

### 3. Runtime Settings

Settings can be accessed through `runtime.getSetting()` which provides a consistent interface to environment variables and character settings.

## Conditional Plugin Loading

Plugins are often conditionally loaded based on environment variables:

```typescript
const plugins = [
  // BasicCapabilities is automatically included - no need to add it!

  // Conditionally loaded based on API keys
  ...(process.env.ANTHROPIC_API_KEY ? ["@elizaos/plugin-anthropic"] : []),
  ...(process.env.OPENAI_API_KEY ? ["@elizaos/plugin-openai"] : []),

  // Platform plugins
  ...(process.env.DISCORD_API_TOKEN ? ["@elizaos/plugin-discord"] : []),
  ...(process.env.TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN ? ["@elizaos/plugin-telegram"] : []),
];
```

## Core Plugins

elizaOS includes essential plugins that provide foundational functionality:

### BasicCapabilities (Built into @elizaos/core)

The basic-capabilities plugin is built into `@elizaos/core` and automatically registered during runtime initialization. You don't need to import or configure it - it's included automatically when you create an AgentRuntime. It provides essential functionality for message processing, knowledge management, and basic agent operations:

- 13 essential actions (REPLY, MESSAGE, etc.)
- Core providers (time, character, recent messages)
- Task service and Embedding service
- Event handlers
- Available in TypeScript, Python, and Rust

### SQL Plugin

Database integration and management for elizaOS. Features:

- Automatic schema migrations
- Multi-database support (PostgreSQL, PGLite)
- Sophisticated plugin architecture

## Best Practices

1. **Plugin Dependencies**: Use the `dependencies` array to specify required plugins
2. **Conditional Loading**: Check environment variables before loading platform-specific plugins
3. **Service Initialization**: Handle missing API tokens gracefully in service constructors
4. **Event Handlers**: Keep event handlers focused and delegate to specialized functions
5. **Error Handling**: Use try-catch blocks and log errors appropriately
6. **Type Safety**: Use TypeScript types from `@elizaos/core` for all plugin components
7. **Priority Management**: Set appropriate priorities for plugins that need to load early
8. **Configuration**: Use `runtime.getSetting()` for consistent configuration access

## See Also

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Plugin Components" icon="cube" href="/plugins/components">
    Learn about Actions, Providers, Evaluators, and Services
  </Card>

<Card title="Development Guide" icon="code" href="/plugins/development">
  Build your first plugin step by step
</Card>

<Card title="Common Patterns" icon="lightbulb" href="/plugins/patterns">
  Learn proven plugin development patterns
</Card>

  <Card title="Plugin Reference" icon="book" href="/plugins/reference">
    Complete API reference for all interfaces
  </Card>
</CardGroup>