WordPress 7.0 introduces the Connectors API, marking a major step forward in how the platform integrates with external services. Initially focused on AI providers, this framework standardizes API key management, provider discovery, and admin UI configurations, simplifying workflows for developers and site administrators.
The Connectors API is designed as a universal interface for managing connections to external systems. In WordPress 7.0, it debuts with featured connectors for Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI, enabling seamless integration from the new Settings → Connectors admin screen. For plugin developers, this launch represents an opportunity to streamline integration with AI services while providing a consistent user experience for administrators.
How Connectors Work
A connector in WordPress represents a connection to an external service. Each connector carries standardized metadata, including a name, description, logo, authentication configuration, and an optional association with a WordPress plugin. For example, a connector for Anthropic is defined as:
{
'name': 'Anthropic',
'description': 'Text generation with Claude.',
'logo_url': 'https://example.com/anthropic-logo.svg',
'type': 'ai_provider',
'authentication': {
'method': 'api_key',
'credentials_url': 'https://platform.claude.com/settings/keys',
'setting_name': 'connectors_ai_anthropic_api_key'
},
'plugin': {
'slug': 'ai-provider-for-anthropic'
}
}While the current focus is on AI providers, the flexible architecture supports additional connector types in future releases, paving the way for broader integrations across industries.
Auto-Discovery for AI Providers
The Connectors API simplifies the registration process for AI provider plugins integrated with the WP AI Client. During initialization, built-in connectors for Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI are registered with default metadata. The system then queries the AiClient::defaultRegistry() to auto-discover additional providers, merging metadata from the registry with the defaults.
Plugin developers benefit from this automation. If your AI provider plugin registers with the WP AI Client, the Connectors API handles the rest—no manual registration is needed. Developers can also override metadata or register custom connectors using the wp_connectors_init action hook.
The Settings → Connectors Admin Screen
Registered connectors appear on the new Settings → Connectors screen. Each connector is displayed as a card, showing its name, description, and logo. For connectors linked to WordPress plugins, install and activate controls are provided. Authentication links direct users to obtain API keys from the provider, and the screen displays the current authentication status.
For connectors requiring API keys, the system prioritizes values from environment variables, PHP constants, and database settings, checked in that order. Keys stored in the database are masked for security, though encryption is still under consideration in follow-up ticket #64789.
Developer Tools: Public API Functions
The Connectors API introduces three public functions for querying its registry:
wp_is_connector_registered(): Checks if a connector is available.wp_get_connector(): Retrieves metadata for a specific connector.wp_get_connectors(): Returns a list of all registered connectors.
These functions are available after the init hook, making it easy for developers to build custom workflows and interfaces.
What To Do
- Site administrators: Explore the new Settings → Connectors screen in WordPress 7.0 to manage connections with AI providers like Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI.
- Plugin developers: Integrate your AI provider plugin with the WP AI Client to take advantage of the Connectors API’s auto-discovery and metadata management features.
- Security teams: Monitor developments regarding API key encryption in ticket #64789 to ensure compliance with best practices.
