:allow_comments: False

.. _doc_gdextension:

The GDExtension system
======================

**GDExtension** is a Godot-specific technology that lets the engine interact with
native `shared libraries <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_(computing)#Shared_libraries>`__
at runtime. You can use it to run native code without compiling it with the engine.

.. note:: GDExtension is *not* a scripting language and has no relation to
          :ref:`GDScript <doc_gdscript>`.

This section describes how GDExtension works, and is generally aimed at people wanting to make a GDExtension from
scratch, for example to create language bindings. If you want to use existing language bindings, please refer to other
articles instead, such as the articles about :ref:`C++ (godot-cpp) <doc_godot_cpp>` or one of the
:ref:`community-made ones <doc_what_is_gdnative_third_party_bindings>`.

.. toctree::
   :maxdepth: 1
   :name: toc-tutorials-gdextension

   what_is_gdextension
   gdextension_file
   gdextension_c_example