# Discord Bots & Companion Apps

![Discord Bots & Companion Apps Hero Image](../img/images/headers/docs-botsapp-hero.png)

Bots are applications that connect to Discord using the Discord API. They appear in servers as users with an `APP` tag and can interact with members, respond to events, and perform actions programmatically. For a deeper look at what bots can do and when to use one, see the [Bots & Companion Apps](/guides/app-fundamentals-platform-bots) platform page.

## Getting Started

To build a bot, you'll need to:

- **Create an application** in the Discord Developer Portal. This is where your bot token, OAuth2 credentials, and configuration live.
- **Add a bot user** to your application from the Bot tab. This generates the token your code uses to authenticate.
- **Invite the bot** to a server using an OAuth2 URL with the bot scope and the permissions your bot requires.
- **Connect to the API** using the Gateway for real-time events, the HTTP API for REST operations, or both.

Most developers use a community-maintained library in their language of choice rather than interfacing with the API directly. Official and community libraries are listed in the [Community Resources](/guides/tools-resources-developer-tools-community-resources) page.

If you're ready to dive in, the [Getting Started guide](/guides/bots-companion-apps-quick-start-getting-started) walks through building and running your first bot end to end.

## Building Your Bot

- **[Interactions](/guides/interactions-overview)** — Slash commands, context menu commands, buttons, select menus, and modals that let users interact with your bot.
- **[Components](/guides/components-overview)** — Layout, content, and interactive UI elements you can attach to messages and modals.
- **[Monetization](/guides/monetization-2-overview)** — Add subscriptions and one-time purchases to your bot using Discord's built-in payment flow.
- **[Discovery](/guides/discovery-overview)** — Get your app listed in the App Directory and App Launcher so users can find and install it.
- **[Guides & Tutorials](/guides/building-on-discord-bots)** — Practical guides on implementing common bot features and best practices.

::::card-grid
:::card{title="Build Your First App" href="/guides/bots-companion-apps-quick-start-getting-started"}
Step-by-step guide to building and running your first Discord bot.
:::

:::card{title="Bot Development Guides" href="/guides/building-on-discord-bots"}
Explore guides on implementing common bot features and best practices.
:::
::::

## Related pages

- [API Reference](./api-reference-index.md)
- [App Fundamentals](./app-fundamentals-index.md)
- [Best Practices](./best-practices-index.md)
- [Bots & Companion Apps](./bots-companion-apps-index.md)
- [Building Games](./building-games-index.md)
- [Building on Discord](./building-on-discord-index.md)
- [Change Log](./change-log-index.md)
- [Communities & Servers](./communities-servers-index.md)
- [Components](./components-index.md)
- [Core Concepts](./core-concepts-index.md)

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