---
title: Introduction to Plug-ins
framework: corefoundation
role: article
path: apple-archive/documentation/CoreFoundation/Conceptual/CFPlugIns
---

# Introduction to Plug-ins

Explains how to use the plug-in architecture provided by Core Foundation.

## Organization of This Document

The examples in this section demonstrate how to create and work with CFPlugIn objects. The error-checking code has been removed for clarity. In practice, it is *vital* that you check for errors because passing bad parameters into Core Foundation routines can cause your application to crash.

These articles discuss the plug-in architecture and how they work:

- [About Plug-ins](Concepts/about.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001156-CJBEJBHH) - [Plug-in Architecture](Concepts/architecture.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001157-CJBEJBHH) - [Anatomy of a Plug-in](Concepts/anatomy.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001159-CJBEJBHH) - [Conceptual Building Blocks](Concepts/conceptual.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001160-CJBEJBHH) - [Plug-in Registration](Concepts/registration.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001161-CJBEJBHH)

These articles contain examples on how to create and use plug-ins:

- [Defining Types and Interfaces](Tasks/defining.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001163-CJBEHAAG) - [Implementing a Plug-in](Tasks/implementing.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001164-CJBEHAAG) - [Loading and Using a Plug-in](Tasks/loading.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001165-CJBEHAAG)

To generate UUIDs programmatically see:

- [Generating a UUID Programmatically](Tasks/GeneratingUUID.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/20001166-CJBEHAAG)

[Next](Concepts/about.html)

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