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

# Extensibility

> Understanding how the Agentforce Context Protocol can be extended with new capabilities.

A key design philosophy of the Agentforce Context Protocol (ACP) is its inherent extensibility. ACP provides a robust foundation that developers can easily build upon to integrate new systems and introduce custom functionalities for Agentforce agents. This allows your Agentforce agents to connect to a virtually unlimited range of enterprise systems and data sources.

## Extending ACP: New Connectors and Tools

The primary way to extend ACP is by creating:

1. **New [Connectors](/core-concepts/connectors):** These are the bridges that link ACP to specific external systems, Salesforce clouds, or other data platforms. If you need Agentforce agents to interact with a system not yet supported out-of-the-box, you can develop a Connector for it.
2. **New [Tools](/core-concepts/tools) within Connectors:** Tools represent the specific actions or queries an agent can perform via a Connector. By defining new Tools, you expose the unique capabilities of the connected system to your agents.

## Standardized Development with Apex for Salesforce

For integrations deeply tied to the Salesforce ecosystem, ACP promotes a standardized approach to Connector development. Developers can:

* **Build Connectors using Apex:** Custom Connectors can be implemented as Apex classes within Salesforce.
* **Follow ACP Standards:** These Apex-based Connectors adhere to a defined ACP interface and structure, ensuring they integrate smoothly into the ACP framework. This standardized format simplifies development and promotes consistency across different Connectors.
* **Leverage Salesforce Platform Capabilities:** Building on Apex allows Connectors to seamlessly utilize Salesforce features like [Named Credentials](/core-concepts/security-model#connector-authentication-to-target-systems) for secure authentication to target systems, and to respect Salesforce's robust security and sharing models.

## Benefits of Extensibility

* **Tailored Integrations:** Connect any system, whether it's a modern SaaS application or a legacy internal service, to your Agentforce agents.
* **Custom Agent Capabilities:** Equip agents with unique Tools that perform specialized tasks or access proprietary business logic.
* **Adaptability:** As your enterprise systems evolve, ACP can evolve with them through the addition of new Connectors and Tools.

By providing a clear and standardized path for extension, particularly through Apex for Salesforce-centric components, ACP empowers developers to significantly broaden the scope and power of their AI agent solutions.

More detailed developer guides for creating Connectors will be available in the [Guides](/guides/overview) section.

Return to [Core Concepts Overview](/core-concepts/overview).