pluginid

Pluginid is a term used in software development to denote a unique identifier assigned to a plugin within a host application or framework. The identifier serves as a stable reference that allows the host to locate, load, configure, and manage the plugin across sessions.

As a convention, a pluginid is a string that is unique within the host’s ecosystem. Formats vary by platform; some use a hierarchical, human-readable slug such as com.example.analytics or org.company.theme-switcher, others may use a UUID or GUID, and some systems use numeric ids. The choice of format is determined by the host's manifest and loading mechanism.

Plugins declare their pluginid in a manifest or descriptor file, alongside metadata such as version, author, and dependencies. The loader uses the pluginid to resolve dependencies, register services, and apply configuration. A stable pluginid is important for compatibility; changing the id can break configurations and updates.

Good practices include avoiding changes to an existing pluginid, documenting the identifier in release notes, and ensuring uniqueness across installed plugins. In some ecosystems, the pluginid is also used in registries or marketplaces to reference the plugin unambiguously.

See also: plugin manifest, extension identifier, plugin registry.