Add-ons are customized extensions of G Suite productivity applications such as Gmail, Google Sheets, and Google Docs. Add-ons can add new capabilities to the G Suite applications they extend, help automate tasks, or make third-party services or information available in G Suite. Add-ons are built using Apps Script—a rapid application development platform based on JavaScript that lets you create business and productivity applications quickly and easily.
With Add-ons you can do the following:
- Create customized user interfaces that are directly integrated into G Suite applications such as Gmail, Calendar, and Drive. These interfaces can display information to the user and provide user controls.
- Boost workflow efficiency when working with G Suite by automating or streamlining tasks.
- Use Apps Script services to easily control and move data between Google applications.
- Connect to non-Google services within G Suite applications, allowing you to retrieve or upload data from those services into and from G Suite.
- Remove the need for browser switching by providing the user everything they need within G Suite.
You can create add-ons for your personal use, for use within your organization, or publish them to the G Suite Marketplace where millions of users and domain administrators can find and install them.
Add-on types
Add-ons are defined by the application they extend (the host application). There are two primary types of add-ons: G Suite add-ons and editor add-ons.
G Suite add-ons are the newest generation of add-ons. The previous iteration, Gmail add-ons, provided desktop and mobile extensions of Gmail only, using interfaces built from an Apps Script widget library. G Suite add-ons add a number of new features and capabilities, including the ability to extend Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Drive—all with a single add-on. Previously created Gmail add-ons now function as G Suite add-ons; you can upgrade your Gmail add-on to take advantage of the new G Suite capabilities.
Editor add-ons are the extend one of the Google Drive editor host applications:
G Suite add-ons and editor add-ons differ in how authorization is handled and how their interfaces are constructed. See Add-on types for more information.
The add-on development lifecycle
Add-ons go through different stages as they are developed, tested, and published:
Building. To create an add-on, you must create an Apps Script project and write code that defines the add-on's appearence and behavior. Depending on the problems the add-on is attempting to solve, you may need to write code that interacts with one or more of the Apps Script services or else use various Apps Script features such as triggers.
Testing. In order to provide the best experience for your users, you must throughly test your add-on prior to publishing it. You can install and test unpublished add-ons you or your team have developed, provided you have access to the add-on's script project. When testing your add-on, make sure the add-on UI appearence and behavior is what you intended. Try to anticipate how users interact with your add-on and provide a solid user experience.
Publishing. When your add-on is finished you can publish it to the G Suite Marketplace for others to find and use. You can publish publicly for everyone to find, or publish only to your domain.
Publishing is a complex process that requires preparation. When you publish to the G Suite Marketplace, you must provide a number of text, image, and URL assets that the G Suite Marketplace uses to show your add-on to others. It's best to create these assets before starting the publication process so you avoid delays.
Publishing add-ons publicly also requires your add-on to undergo an add-on review. During the review a Google review team member examines your add-on to verify that it meets Google's style, content, and design guidelines and provides a good user experience. All add-ons published publicly must pass the review process in order to appear the G Suite Marketplace.
Updating. After an add-on is published, at times you may want to update its code or how it appears in the G Suite Marketplace. You may also want to unpublish an add-on if it is no longer useful.
The documentation found here explains each step of the development process for both G Suite and editor add-ons. See Building a G Suite add-on or Building an editor add-on to get started.
Getting started
Add-ons are built with Apps Script, a server-side JavaScript platform that requires zero setup. Here are some ways to start developing your add-on:
Try a quickstart! In just a few minutes, you can create one of these simple add-ons:
Review the add-on development guides. Start with Building G Suite add-ons, Building editor add-ons, or Upgrading Gmail add-ons.
Review Apps Script. If you're unfamiliar with Apps Script, you can find details in the Apps Script documentation.
Review what other developers have built. Find published add-ons or other apps that extend Gmail, Calendar, Drive, Sheets, Docs, Forms, or Slides.
Report problems or ask questions
See the G Suite add-ons support guide or editor add-on support guide for information on how to find help for add-on development on Stack Overflow, file bug reports, or make feature requests.