> Portal Navigation:
> 
> - Append `.md` to any URL under `https://dev.wix.com/docs/` to get its markdown version.
> - Pages are either content pages (article or reference text) or menu pages (a list of links to child pages).
> - To get a menu page, truncate any URL to a parent path and append `.md` (e.g. `https://dev.wix.com/docs/sdk.md`, `https://dev.wix.com/docs/sdk/core-modules.md`).
> - Top-level index of all portals: https://dev.wix.com/docs/llms.txt
> - Full concatenated docs: https://dev.wix.com/docs/llms-full.txt

## Resource: About Extending Websites

## Article: About Developing Websites

## Article Link: https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/overview/about-extending-websites.md

## Article Content:

# About Extending Websites

Extending websites on Wix with the [JavaScript SDK](https://dev.wix.com/docs/sdk.md) offers a unique blend of flexibility, ease of use, and powerful features. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, Wix provides the tools and technologies needed to craft visually appealing and fully functional dynamic web applications:

- **Interactive UI:** Use Wix's powerful editors to build sites with custom UI, behaviors, and interactions.
- **Full-stack development:** Leverage a robust suite of developer tools and Wix APIs to build and deploy with efficiency and security. Integrate your code with the editor UI to enhance and extend its capabilities.
- **Content management:** Use the Wix CMS and its data APIs to manage, serve, and display content dynamically at scale.
- **Wix business solutions:** Connect directly to production-ready solutions like eCommerce and Bookings, and extend them to deliver a tailored experience for site visitors.
- **Zero-setup backend:** Implement complex workflows and automations with a fully supported Node.js environment. Wix handles infrastructure, hosting, and scaling so you can focus on your code.
- **3rd-party integrations:** Expand a site's capabilities by adding apps, npm packages, and external services such as payment providers and marketing tools.


## Technologies

Build with trusted, industry-standard tools tailored to Wix's platform. Utilize your existing skills and leverage the following technologies to create and manage dynamic web applications:

- **JavaScript**: When extending a site with the SDK, you write both frontend and backend code in JavaScript, calling the SDK's APIs to incorporate interactive and dynamic functionality.
- **Node.js**: Wix provides a robust Node.js environment for running your backend code.
- **MongoDB**: Wix uses MongoDB as the database for its CMS system, offering a flexible and scalable solution for managing and storing content.
- **Type safety**: The SDK provides full TypeScript support with comprehensive type definitions for enhanced development experience.

## Development environments

Pick the environment that fits how you build. Wix offers several [development environments](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/overview/development-environments.md) to match your workflow:

- **Wix Studio:** Use the built-in [code editor](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/code-your-site/developer-environments/ides/code-editor/about-the-code-editor.md) in the browser to write and manage code alongside the visual site editor. No setup required.
- **Local IDE:** Use a [local IDE](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/code-your-site/developer-environments/ides/git-integration/about-the-local-editor.md), such as VS Code, for the flexibility and power of a full-featured development environment on your own machine. Set up via GitHub integration and manage your project using the CLI. Pair with [AI tools](#wix-ai-tools) to provide local AI coding clients the context they need to build and manage your project.
- **Wix IDE (Beta):** Use the [Wix IDE](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/code-your-site/developer-environments/ides/wix-ide/about-the-wix-ide.md), a VS Code-based online IDE for Wix Studio sites.

## Wix AI tools

For AI coding clients like Claude Code, Cursor, and VS Code, install the [Wix Plugin](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/articles/ai-tools/about-the-wix-plugin.md) to give your AI client the context it needs to build and manage your project.

The Wix Plugin includes:

- [Wix Skills](https://github.com/wix/skills/blob/main/skills): A collection of self-contained instruction sets for Wix development tasks. This includes the Wix Headless skill, which can scaffold and deploy a complete headless project from a single prompt.
- [Wix MCP](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference/articles/ai-tools/wix-mcp/about-the-wix-mcp.md): A Model Context Protocol server that lets your AI tool search Wix docs, scaffold code, and call Wix APIs directly from your IDE.

To install just Wix Skills, run:

```bash
npx skills add wix/skills
```

> **Note:** Add `-g` to install globally and make Wix Skills available across all your projects.

### Programmatic docs access

Beyond the Wix Plugin, you can pull Wix docs into any tool or workflow:

- **llms.txt index:** Browse a structured index of all documentation at [dev.wix.com/docs/llms.txt](https://dev.wix.com/docs/llms.txt.md).
- **Markdown format:** Append `.md` to any documentation page URL to retrieve the Markdown version of that page.
- **Page menu:** Use the **Ask Assistant** dropdown on any documentation page to copy the page as Markdown or get a direct link to the Markdown version.

## Developer journey

Ready to get started? Here's what to expect at each stage of the development process, from a blank canvas to a fully functioning site:

- **Get started:** Explore the [Wix ecosystem](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/overview/the-wix-ecosystem.md) and [supported features](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/overview/site-development-features.md). Browse the [API Reference](https://dev.wix.com/docs/api-reference?apiView=SDK.md) and review potential [3rd-party integrations](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/overview/integrate-with-3rd-parties.md) to see what you can build. Take some time to review best practices and any limitations to ensure a smooth development process.
- **Code:** [Start coding](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/code-your-site/code-with-java-script/about-java-script-support.md) using 1 or more Wix [development environments](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/overview/development-environments.md) to write, manage, and debug your code. Build both frontend and backend to deliver a fully functional and user-friendly site.
- **Test:** Preview and thoroughly test your site throughout development. Use the built-in tools to test your code in isolation and as a whole. Create [test sites](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/test-your-site/work-with-test-sites/about-test-sites.md) to experiment without affecting a live site, and use [logs](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/test-your-site/work-with-wix-logs/about-wix-logs.md) to monitor and debug issues.
- **Publish:** Use the editor or the [CLI](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/code-your-site/developer-environments/ides/git-integration/about-git-integration-with-wix-cli.md) to publish your site once you've thoroughly tested it.
- **Maintain:** Monitor your site using [logs](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/test-your-site/work-with-wix-logs/about-wix-logs.md) and the [monitoring dashboard](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/maintain-your-site/monitor-your-site/about-the-monitoring-dashboard.md) to track performance and resource usage. Consider [upgrading your premium plan](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/maintain-your-site/scale-your-site/about-premium-plans.md) to scale your site effectively and avoid hitting plan limitations.
- **Grow:** Become a [Certified Wix Partner](https://www.wix.com/partners/partner-program) to offer your development services or sell apps to an audience of 250M+ users.

## Community

- Join the [Wix Developers Discord server](https://discord.gg/47gUT9KabP) and [forum](https://forum.wixstudio.com/) to ask questions, discuss complex topics, and collaborate with other Studio creators.
- Contact [customer care](https://www.wix.com/contact) for support with platform issues, billing, or account questions.
- Follow the Wix [changelog](https://dev.wix.com/docs/changelog.md) for up-to-date information about Wix features and APIs.
- [Subscribe](https://www.wixforms.com/f/7394355343209268224) to the Wix newsletter to receive the latest updates and feature announcements.

## Next steps

Start building or explore the resources below to go deeper:

- Explore [the Wix Ecosystem](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/overview/the-wix-ecosystem.md) and browse the [SDK Reference](https://dev.wix.com/docs/sdk.md) to understand the platform and what you can build. 
- Browse [tutorials](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/tutorials/tutorials-overview.md) and [code examples](https://dev.wix.com/docs/coding-examples.md) for step-by-step guidance on implementing functionality for a site.
- Follow the [Quick Start](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites-sdk/get-started/quick-start/quick-start.md) to start building.

Coming from Velo? Learn how to [migrate from Velo to the SDK](https://dev.wix.com/docs/develop-websites/articles/coding-with-velo/develop-with-the-sdk/velo-to-sdk-api-mapping.md).