github.com/hashicorp/packer@v1.14.3/website/content/docs/plugins/index.mdx (about)

     1  ---
     2  description: |
     3    This topic provides overview information about installing and loading Packer plugins
     4  page_title: Plugins
     5  ---
     6  
     7  # Plugin installation overview
     8  
     9  <Note>
    10  
    11  Starting August 1st, 2025, the source for many official HashiCorp-maintained Packer plugins is moving from GitHub releases to the official HashiCorp release site, [releases.hashicorp.com](https://releases.hashicorp.com). Refer to [Install HashiCorp-maintained plugins](/packer/docs/plugins/install#install-hashicorp-maintained-plugins) for more information.
    12  
    13  </Note>
    14  
    15  This topic provides overview information about installing and loading Packer plugins. Plugins are standalone applications that perform additional tasks during each build.
    16  
    17  ## Introduction
    18  
    19  The Packer binary includes a set of built-in components that are automatically usable. You can also install external plugins for Packer to run and communicate with throughout the build. These external plugins extend Packer functionality without modifying the core source code. Packer launches one plugin process for each component in the build.
    20  
    21  ## Workflows
    22  
    23  To use a plugin with Packer, you must install the plugin code and its SHA256SUM file into the Packer plugins directory.
    24  Refer to [Installing Plugins](/packer/docs/plugins/install) for instructions. If you are unable to use an installed plugin refer to the [Plugin Loading - Specification](/packer/docs/plugins/creation/plugin-load-spec) for details on how Packer discovers and loads plugins.
    25  
    26  ## Where Packer stores plugins
    27  
    28  Packer stores external plugins that are downloaded during initialization into the plugins directory. The default plugins directory is `$HOME/.config/packer/plugins` on Unix and  `%APPDATA%\packer.d\plugins` on Windows. Refer to [`PACKER_PLUGIN_PATH`](/packer/docs/configure#packer_plugin_path) in the configuration reference for additional information.
    29  
    30  ## Guidance
    31  
    32  Refer to the following plugin documentation for details about the plugin installation process:
    33  
    34  ### Installing plugins
    35  
    36  Refer to [Installing Plugins](/packer/docs/plugins/install) for instructions on adding external plugins to your Packer template and installing the binaries.
    37  
    38  ### External plugins
    39  
    40  Refer to the [Packer Integrations](/packer/integrations) documentation to learn about the available external plugins not included with the Packer binary.
    41  
    42  
    43  ### Built-in plugins
    44  
    45  - Packer uses plugins called _builders_ to create machines and images. Refer to [Builders](/packer/docs/builders) for additional information.
    46  - The _data sources_ plugin fetches data to use in a template. Refer to [Data Sources](/packer/docs/datasources) for additional information.
    47  - Plugins called _provisioners_ install and configure machine images after booting. Refer to [Provisioners](/packer/docs/provisioners) for additional information.
    48  - _Post-processors_ perform additional tasks after provisioning. Refer to [Post-Processors](/packer/docs/post-processors) for additional information.
    49  
    50  
    51  ### Developing plugins
    52  
    53  Refer to the [Developing Plugins](/packer/docs/plugins/creation) to learn how to create custom external plugins.