---
title: "Registering plugins and backend modules"
manual: "TYPO3 Explained"
version: "main"
permalink: "https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:extbase-registration@main"
source: "ExtensionArchitecture/Extbase/Registration/Index.rst"
rendered: "2026-09-21T11:24:09+00:00"
---

# Registering plugins and backend modules {#extbase-registration}

An Extbase extension can register frontend plugins, backend modules, both, or
neither — depending on what it needs to deliver.

-   A **frontend plugin** renders content on a page. Editors add it as a
    content element and visitors see the output in the frontend.
-   A **backend module** adds a section to the TYPO3 backend for editors or
    administrators to manage data.

Each registration requires a small amount of PHP and configuration files loaded
during bootstrap — no database records, no install steps.

**On this page**

-   [In this chapter](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:in-this-chapter@main)

## In this chapter {#extbase-registration-overview}

-   **[Registering an Extbase frontend plugin](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:extbase-registration-frontend-plugin@main)**

    How to register an Extbase plugin as a frontend content element:
    `configurePlugin()`, `registerPlugin()`, allowed actions,
    non-cacheable actions, and the TypoScript plugin object path.

-   **[Registering an Extbase backend module](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:extbase-registration-backend-module@main)**

    How to register an Extbase-based backend module via
    [`Configuration/Backend/Modules.php`](../../FileStructure/Configuration/Backend/Index.md#file-extension-configuration-backend-modules-php): the
    [controllerActions](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:confval-backend-module-controlleractions@main) key,
    access control, icons, and the full module API at [Backend modules API](https://docs.typo3.org/permalink/t3coreapi:backend-modules-api@main).