Core Concepts
Modules
Conduit is built around microservices called modules. Each module provides specific functionality:
- Authentication - User login and identity management
- Database - Data storage with CMS capabilities
- Router - API routing and security
- Email/SMS - Messaging services
- And many more...
Modules are:
- Optional - Only deploy what you need
- Replaceable - Swap implementations while maintaining compatibility
- Configurable - Each has its own settings
Learn more in the Modules overview.
Routing
Conduit offers multiple API transport options without code duplication:
| Transport | Use Case |
|---|---|
| REST | Standard HTTP requests |
| GraphQL | Flexible queries with auto-generated schema |
| WebSockets | Real-time bidirectional communication |
All transports support:
- Application-level requests (client-facing)
- Administration requests (internal management)
- Auto-generated documentation (Swagger for REST, GraphQL introspection)
Learn more in the Router module.
Configuration
Conduit provides centralized module configuration. Key points:
- All module settings are managed through Conduit Core
- Modules can function with defaults or require explicit configuration
- Some modules need third-party credentials before activation
Configuration Methods
- Admin Panel - Visual interface for all settings
- Admin API - Programmatic configuration via REST/GraphQL
note
Modules must be online for their configuration to be accessible.
Learn more in the Configuration guide.
Security
Application APIs include built-in security features:
- Client ID/Secret - Optional request authentication
- Rate Limiting - Protect against abuse
- Security Headers - Via Helmet middleware
Learn more in Router Security.
gRPC Communication
All internal communication uses gRPC:
- High-performance inter-service calls
- Health checking protocol support
- Optional signed request protection
- Language-agnostic (works with any gRPC-compatible language)
This means you can write custom modules in any language that supports gRPC.