Plugins & modules

A plugin is a self-contained, portable feature bundle: a .uplugin descriptor file plus one or more C++ modules and optional content/resources. Use plugins when the feature is reusable across projects, optional (so it can be disabled), or ships as an editor tool. Compare with project modules (ue-module-and-build-system): project modules compile into your game and can't travel without it; plugins drop into any project's Plugins/ folder.

When to use this skill

• Creating a reusable runtime system, editor tool, or third-party SDK wrapper.
• Deciding whether to put new code in a project module or a plugin.
• Structuring a plugin that contains both runtime and editor modules.
• Enabling, disabling, or adding a dependency on another plugin.
• A plugin or its modules fail to load at startup.
• Plugin content doesn't mount or assets aren't found under /PluginName/.

Plugin vs project module