> ## 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.
# Overview of Discord Apps
> Build Discord apps to customize, extend, and enhance Discord for millions of users.
export const WrenchIcon = props => ;
export const AppsIcon = props => ;
export const GameControllerIcon = props => ;
export const ShapesIcon = props => ;
export const RobotIcon = props => ;
A **Discord application** is the core entity that represents your integration with the Discord platform. Every bot, Activity, and Social SDK integration is backed by an application registered in the [Discord Developer Portal](https://discord.com/developers/applications).
Applications hold your credentials, OAuth2 settings, bot configuration, and metadata. Whether you're building a simple command-response bot or a full game integration with voice chat and rich presence, it all starts with creating an application.
## The Three Types of Discord Apps
### Bots
Bots are automated user accounts operated by application code. They appear in servers with an `APP` tag and can respond to events, slash commands, and user actions.
Use bots when you want to:
* Add commands, moderation tools, or utilities to a server
* React to events (messages, joins, reactions) in real time
* Build interactive experiences with buttons, menus, and modals
* Post automated updates from external systems
Bots can be **guild-installed** (added to a specific server) or **user-installed** (available everywhere the user goes, without requiring server permissions).
### Activities
Activities are embedded web applications that run inside Discord channels. They're built with the [Embedded App SDK](/developers/developer-tools/embedded-app-sdk) and can be launched by any user in a channel or from a bot with the `LAUNCH_ACTIVITY` interaction callback.
Use Activities when you want to:
* Build a game or interactive experience that runs inside Discord
* Create collaborative tools (watch parties, drawing apps, trivia games)
* Leverage Discord's existing social context: voice, friends, servers
### Social Layer for Games
The [Discord Social SDK](/developers/discord-social-sdk/overview) lets you add Discord-powered social features to your game across PC, mobile, and console. You can integrate individual features alongside your existing social systems or build out a more complete Discord-powered experience.
Use the Social SDK when you want to:
* Add rich presence, friends lists, and voice chat to your game
* Support cross-platform social features with Discord account linking
* Let players interact through Discord without leaving your game
## Where Apps Install
| App Type | Install Target | What It Unlocks |
| --------------------- | -------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Bot (guild-installed) | A server | Access to server channels, members, events |
| Bot (user-installed) | A user | Available in DMs, group DMs, and any server |
| Activity | An application | Launchable from any voice channel |
| Social SDK | Your game | Social features embedded in your game client |
## What APIs Can Apps Use?
There are a handful of different APIs that you can pick and choose from based on your app's functionality and which Discord features you want to access. Below is a quick overview of the main APIs on the Discord developer platform, but you can read more details and information about API usage in the [API reference](/developers/reference).
### HTTP API
The **HTTP API** is a REST API that lets you interact and modify core Discord resources like [channels](/developers/resources/channel), [servers (or guilds)](/developers/resources/guild), [users](/developers/resources/user), and [messages](/developers/resources/message#message-object).
Use the HTTP API to:
* Retrieve information about a resource
* Create, update, or delete a resource
Read details about using the HTTP API in the [API reference](/developers/reference#http-api).
### Gateway API
The **Gateway API** is a WebSocket connection between your app and Discord. While it's most commonly used to receive a real-time stream of events from Discord, the connection is bidirectional. Your app can also send events to Discord over the same connection.
Use the Gateway API to:
* Receive real-time events from Discord (messages, member joins, reactions, voice state changes, and more)
* Update your bot's presence and status
* Manage voice state and connect to voice channels
* Perform the connection handshake and manage the lifecycle of your Gateway connection
Read details about using the Gateway API in the [API reference](/developers/reference#gateway-websocket-api).
## Start Building
}>
Build a bot that responds to events, commands, and user interactions in Discord servers.
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Add Discord-powered social features to your game using the Discord Social SDK.
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Build an embedded web app or game that runs inside Discord voice channels.