GDExtension
lastmod 2026-11-10created 2023-03-293 edits
GDExtension is the extension system in Godot 4 that loads code written in native languages such as C, C++, and Rust like a plugin, without recompiling the engine. It replaces Godot 3's GDNative and registers node classes and methods directly through a JSON file describing the engine API and the godot-cpp bindings. It is used for performance-critical parts and for integrating external libraries.