Use consistent vocabulary in reference to components and plugins (#4806)

jack-berg · web-flow · commit 55d05721b2ae · 2026-01-09T21:04:37.000Z
In response to this feedback: #4568 (comment) The declarative config SDK spec uses "component", "extension plugin interface", "SDK extension plugins" somewhat interchangeable. This PR makes the vocabulary consistent: - component: any part of the SDK, i.e. TracerProvider, SpanExporter, OtlpHttpSpanExporter, Sampler, SpanProcessor, BatchSpanProcessor, etc - plugin component: also called a SDK extension plugin interface elsewhere, any SDK component which is pluggable, i.e. Sampler, SpanExporter, SpanProcessor, **but not** ParentBasedSampler To facilitate, this PR: - Renames `ComponentProvider` to `PluginComponentProvider`. This makes it clear that only plugins are being provided rather than all components. - Rename `ComponentProvider.createPlugin` to `PluginComponentProvider.createComponent`. There are no functional changes in this PR, just naming updates.
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@ release.
 
 ### SDK Configuration
 
+- Declarative configuration: rename `ComponentProvider` to
+  `PluginComponentProvider`, `CreatePlugin` to `CreateComponent` in effort to
+  use consistent vocabulary
+  ([#4806](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-specification/pull/4806))
+
 ### Supplementary Guidelines
 
 ### OTEPs
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix.md b/spec-compliance-matrix.md
@@ -297,15 +297,15 @@ Disclaimer: Declarative configuration is currently in Development status - work
 | The `Parse` operation accepts the configuration YAML file format | + | + | + |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 | The `Parse` operation performs environment variable substitution | + | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 | The `Parse` operation returns configuration model | + | + | + |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
-| The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties` |  | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
+| The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties` |  | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 | `Create` SDK components | + | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 | The `Create` operation accepts configuration model | + | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 | The `Create` operation returns `TracerProvider` | + | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 | The `Create` operation returns `MeterProvider` | + | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 | The `Create` operation returns `LoggerProvider` | + | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 | The `Create` operation returns `Propagators` |  | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
-| The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components |  | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
-| Register a `ComponentProvider` |  | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
+| The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components |  | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
+| Register a `PluginComponentProvider` |  | + |  |  |  |  | + |  | + |  |  |
 
 ## Exporters
 
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/cpp.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/cpp.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '+'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '+'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '+'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '+'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '+'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '+'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '+'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '+'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/dotnet.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/dotnet.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '?'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '?'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '?'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '?'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/erlang.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/erlang.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '?'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '?'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '?'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '?'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/go.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/go.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '+'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '+'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '?'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '+'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '+'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '?'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '?'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/java.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/java.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '+'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '+'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '+'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '+'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '+'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '+'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '+'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '+'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/js.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/js.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '+'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '?'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '?'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '?'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '?'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/php.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/php.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '+'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '+'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '+'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '+'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '+'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '+'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '+'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '+'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/python.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/python.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '?'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '?'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '?'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '?'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/ruby.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/ruby.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '?'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '?'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '?'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '?'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/rust.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/rust.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '?'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '?'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '?'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '?'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/swift.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/swift.yaml
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
         status: '?'
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
         status: '?'
@@ -523,9 +523,9 @@ sections:
         status: '?'
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
         status: '?'
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
         status: '?'
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
         status: '?'
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/spec-compliance-matrix/template.yaml b/spec-compliance-matrix/template.yaml
@@ -322,15 +322,15 @@ sections:
       - name: The `Parse` operation accepts the configuration YAML file format
       - name: The `Parse` operation performs environment variable substitution
       - name: The `Parse` operation returns configuration model
-      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves extension component configuration to `properties`
+      - name: The `Parse` operation resolves plugin component configuration to `properties`
       - name: '`Create` SDK components'
       - name: The `Create` operation accepts configuration model
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `TracerProvider`
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `MeterProvider`
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `LoggerProvider`
       - name: The `Create` operation returns `Propagators`
-      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreatePlugin` of corresponding `ComponentProvider` when encountering extension components
-      - name: Register a `ComponentProvider`
+      - name: The `Create` operation calls `CreateComponent` of corresponding `PluginComponentProvider` when encountering plugin components
+      - name: Register a `PluginComponentProvider`
     hide_optional_column: true
   - name: Exporters
     features:
diff --git a/specification/configuration/README.md b/specification/configuration/README.md
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ Declarative configuration consists of the following main components:
   configuration options during initialization.
 * [Configuration SDK](./sdk.md) defines SDK capabilities around file
   configuration, including an In-Memory configuration model, support for
-  referencing custom extension plugin interfaces in configuration files, and
+  referencing custom plugin components in configuration files, and
   operations to parse configuration files and interpret the configuration data
   model.
 
diff --git a/specification/configuration/sdk-environment-variables.md b/specification/configuration/sdk-environment-variables.md
@@ -344,11 +344,11 @@ configuration model. Implementations MAY provide a mechanism to customize the
 configuration model parsed from `OTEL_EXPERIMENTAL_CONFIG_FILE`.
 
 Users are encouraged to
-use [`sdk-migration-config.yaml`](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-configuration/blob/main/examples/otel-sdk-migration-config.yaml)
+use [`otel-sdk-migration-config.yaml`](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-configuration/blob/main/examples/otel-sdk-migration-config.yaml)
 as a starting point for `OTEL_EXPERIMENTAL_CONFIG_FILE`. This file represents a
 common SDK configuration scenario, and includes environment variable
 substitution references to environment variables which are otherwise ignored.
-Alternatively, [`sdk-config.yaml`](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-configuration/blob/main/examples/otel-sdk-config.yaml)
+Alternatively, [`otel-sdk-config.yaml`](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-configuration/blob/main/examples/otel-sdk-config.yaml)
 offers a common SDK configuration starting point without environment variable
 substitution references.
 
diff --git a/specification/configuration/sdk.md b/specification/configuration/sdk.md
diff --git a/specification/configuration/supplementary-guidelines.md b/specification/configuration/supplementary-guidelines.md
