Plugin

Introduction

Plugins are cross-cutting extensions that add platform-wide features to Tailor. Unlike Content Elements and Meta Inputs which are attached to specific entities, Plugins operate globally across the application, hooking into various parts of the system to modify behavior and add functionality.

Example

Consider a scenario where you need to support multi-language content authoring. Rather than implementing language handling in every component, a Plugin can:

• Add a language selector to the navigation bar
• Intercept data reads to return the correct language version
• Transform data writes to store translations properly
• Filter content containers to show only the current language

This is exactly what the built-in i18n Plugin provides. When enabled in a schema, it seamlessly adds multi-language support without modifying existing components.

How Plugins Differ from Other Extensions

Extension Type	Scope	Purpose
Content Element	Single content block	Display and edit specific content types
Content Container	Group of elements	Organize content elements
Meta Input	Single field	Collect metadata for entities
Plugin	Application-wide	Add cross-cutting features

Plugins are the right choice when you need functionality that:

• Spans multiple entity types (Repository, Activity, Content Element)
• Requires global UI components (navigation items, overlays)
• Transforms data across the application
• Adds workflow or process enhancements

Plugin Capabilities

Plugins can provide:

1. UI Components: Global controls, field enhancements, configuration panels
2. State Management: Pinia stores for managing plugin-specific state
3. Data Hooks: Intercept and transform data at various points
4. Schema Extensions: Add configuration options to repository schemas

For detailed information on developing and using Plugins, see the Plugin Extensions documentation.