> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.discord.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Bots & Companion Apps

> Build bots and companion apps that connect to Discord and interact with servers, members, and events.

export const BookCheckIcon = props => <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M15 2a3 3 0 0 1 3 3v12H5.5a1.5 1.5 0 0 0 0 3h14a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V5h1a1 1 0 0 1 1 1v15a1 1 0 0 1-1 1H5a3 3 0 0 1-3-3V5a3 3 0 0 1 3-3h10Zm-.3 5.7a1 1 0 0 0-1.4-1.4L9 10.58l-2.3-2.3a1 1 0 0 0-1.4 1.42l3 3a1 1 0 0 0 1.4 0l5-5Z" clip-rule="evenodd" /></svg>;

export const WrenchIcon = props => <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none"><path fill="currentColor" d="M7.8 15.77c.7.43 1.2 1.14 1.2 1.96V21a1 1 0 0 0 1 1h4a1 1 0 0 0 1-1v-3.27c0-.82.5-1.53 1.2-1.96a8.06 8.06 0 0 0 .12-13.63c-.6-.39-1.32.09-1.32.8v5.98a1 1 0 0 1-1 1h-4a1 1 0 0 1-1-1V2.94c0-.71-.72-1.19-1.32-.8a8.06 8.06 0 0 0 .12 13.63Z" /></svg>;

export const RobotIcon = props => <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="24" height="24" fill="none"><path fill="currentColor" d="M7.89 13.46a1 1 0 0 1-1.78-.9L7 13l-.9-.45.01-.01.01-.02a2.42 2.42 0 0 1 .14-.23c.1-.14.23-.31.4-.5.37-.36.98-.79 1.84-.79.86 0 1.47.43 1.83.8a3.28 3.28 0 0 1 .55.72v.02h.01v.01L10 13l.9-.45a1 1 0 0 1-1.79.9 1.28 1.28 0 0 0-.19-.25c-.14-.13-.28-.2-.42-.2-.14 0-.28.07-.42.2a1.28 1.28 0 0 0-.19.25ZM13.55 13.9a1 1 0 0 0 1.34-.44c0-.02.02-.04.04-.06.03-.05.08-.13.15-.2.14-.13.28-.2.42-.2.14 0 .28.07.42.2a1.28 1.28 0 0 1 .19.25 1 1 0 0 0 1.78-.9L17 13l.9-.45-.01-.01-.01-.02a2.26 2.26 0 0 0-.14-.23 3.28 3.28 0 0 0-.4-.5c-.37-.36-.98-.79-1.84-.79-.86 0-1.47.43-1.83.8a3.28 3.28 0 0 0-.55.72v.02h-.01v.01L14 13l-.9-.45a1 1 0 0 0 .45 1.34Z" /><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M12 21c5.52 0 10-1.86 10-6 0-5.59-2.8-10.07-4.26-11.67a1 1 0 1 0-1.48 1.34 14.8 14.8 0 0 1 2.35 3.86A10.23 10.23 0 0 0 12 6C9.47 6 7.15 7.02 5.4 8.53a14.8 14.8 0 0 1 2.34-3.86 1 1 0 1 0-1.48-1.34A18.65 18.65 0 0 0 2 15c0 4.14 4.48 6 10 6Zm0-12c3.87 0 7 2 7 4.2S15.87 17 12 17s-7-1.6-7-3.8C5 11 8.13 9 12 9Z" clip-rule="evenodd" /></svg>;

*Already familiar? Jump to the [Bots & Companion Apps docs](/developers/bots/overview) or [Getting Started guide](/developers/quick-start/getting-started).*

Bots are the most common type of Discord app. They appear in servers as bot users with an `APP` tag and can listen to events, respond to slash commands, moderate servers, send messages, and much more, all powered by your code via the Discord API.

Bots can connect to Discord in two ways: a persistent [Gateway WebSocket](/developers/events/gateway) for real-time events, or an [HTTP interactions endpoint](/developers/interactions/overview) for slash commands and UI components without a persistent connection. Most bots use one or both depending on their use case.

Common bot use cases include moderation tools, server utilities, games, integrations with external services, and automated workflows.

If you only need to push messages into a channel, a [webhook](/developers/platform/webhooks) might be a better fit than a full bot. Webhooks are simpler to set up and can send messages with rich embeds, but they can't listen to events or respond to interactions like bots can.

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Bots Overview" href="/developers/bots/overview" icon={<RobotIcon />}>
    What bots are, how they work, and when to use one.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Getting Started" href="/developers/quick-start/getting-started" icon={<WrenchIcon />}>
    Build and run your first Discord bot end to end.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Bot Dev Guides" href="/developers/guides/bots" icon={<BookCheckIcon />}>
    Guides on interactions, components, monetization, and more.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>