---
title: Integrate with external plugins
description: External plugins are programs built outside of Telegraf that run through the execd plugins. Use them to collect, process, or write metrics with code written in any language.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/telegraf/v1/configure_plugins/external_plugins/
estimated_tokens: 430
product: Telegraf Enterprise
version: v1
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/telegraf/v1/configure_plugins/external_plugins/
date: '2026-08-12T10:41:34-06:00'
lastmod: '2026-08-12T10:41:34-06:00'
---

[External plugins](https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/blob/master/EXTERNAL_PLUGINS.md)are programs built outside of Telegraf that run through one of the `execd`plugins:

* [inputs.execd](/telegraf/v1/input-plugins/execd/)
* [processors.execd](/telegraf/v1/processor-plugins/execd/)
* [outputs.execd](/telegraf/v1/output-plugins/execd/)

External plugins allow more flexibility than internal Telegraf plugins:

* Write plugins in any language.
  Internal Telegraf plugins must be written in Go.
* Use libraries not written in Go, including libraries that require CGO
  support.
* Use licensed software that isn’t available to the open source community.
* Include large dependencies that would otherwise bloat Telegraf.
* Run your plugin immediately, without waiting for the Telegraf team to
  review and publish it.
* Convert plugins between internal and external using the[shim](/telegraf/v1/configure_plugins/external_plugins/shim/).

## [Use the execd shim](/telegraf/v1/configure_plugins/external_plugins/shim/)

Use the execd Go shim to extract an internal Telegraf input, processor, or output plugin into a stand-alone program that runs through an execd plugin.

## [Write an external plugin](/telegraf/v1/configure_plugins/external_plugins/write_external_plugin/)

Write a Telegraf external plugin in any language, run it through an execd plugin, and submit it to the community external plugin list.

For community-built external plugins, see the[external plugins list](https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/blob/master/EXTERNAL_PLUGINS.md)in the Telegraf repository.

#### Related

* [](/telegraf/v1/input-plugins/execd/)
* [](/telegraf/v1/processor-plugins/execd/)
* [](/telegraf/v1/output-plugins/execd/)