An extensions point is a place in the BASE core or web client interface where it is possible to extend the functionality with custom extensions. An extension point has an ID which must be unique among all existing extension points. Extension points registered by the BASE web client all starts with net.sf.basedb.clients.web prefix. The extension point also defines an Action subclass that all extensions must implement.

An extensions is a custom addition to the BASE web client interface or core API. This can mean a new menu item in the menu or a new button in a toolbar. An extension must provide an ActionFactory that knows how to create actions that fits the requirements from the extension point the extension is extending.

An Action is an interface definition which provides an extension point enough information to make it possible to render the action as HTML. An action typically has methods such as, getTitle(), getIcon() and getOnClick().

An ActionFactory is an object that knows how to create actions of some specific type, for example menu item actions. Action factories are part of an extension definition and can usually be configured with parameters from the XML file. BASE ships with several implementations of action factories for all defined extension points. Still, if your extension needs a different implementation you can easily create your own factory.

A Renderer is an object that knows how to convert the information in an action to HTML. The use of renderers are optional. Some extension points use a "hard-coded" approach that renders the actions directly on the JSP file. Some extension points uses a locked renderer, while other extension points provides a default renderer, but allows extensions to supply their own if they want to. Renderers are mostly used by the web client extensions, not so much by the core extensions.

A RendererFactory is an object that knows how to create renderers. Renderer factories can be part of both extension points and extensions. In most other aspects renderer factories are very similar to action factories.

An ErrorHandlerFactory is an object that knows how to handle error that occur when executing extensions. An error handler factory is defined as part of an extension point and handles all errors related to the extensions of that extension point. In most other aspects error handler factories are similar to renderer and action factories. If the extension point doesn't define an error handler factory, the system will select a default that only writes a message to the log file LoggingErrorHandlerFactory

A ClientContext is an object which contains information about the current user session. It is for example, possible to get information about the logged in user, the currently active item, etc.

In the BASE web client the context is always a JspContext. Wherever a ClientContext object is provided as a parameter it is always safe to cast it to a JspContext object. Extension points in the core usually use a ClientContext.

The context can also be used by an extension to request that a specific javascript or stylesheet file should be included in the HTML code.