The plugin.json file is required for all plugins. When Grafana starts, it scans the plugin folders and mounts every folder that contains a plugin.json file unless the folder contains a subfolder named dist. In that case, Grafana mounts the dist folder instead.
| `id` | string | **Yes** | Unique name of the plugin. If the plugin is published on grafana.com, then the plugin id has to follow the naming conventions. |
| `info` | [object](#info) | **Yes** | Metadata for the plugin. Some fields are used on the plugins page in Grafana and others on grafana.com if the plugin is published. |
| `name` | string | **Yes** | Human-readable name of the plugin that is shown to the user in the UI. |
| `category` | string | No | Plugin category used on the Add data source page. Possible values are: `tsdb`, `logging`, `cloud`, `tracing`, `sql`, `enterprise`, `other`. |
| `executable` | string | No | The first part of the file name of the backend component executable. There can be multiple executables built for different operating system and architecture. Grafana will check for executables named `<executable>_<$GOOS>_<lower case $GOARCH><.exe for Windows>`, e.g. `plugin_linux_amd64`. Combination of $GOOS and $GOARCH can be found here: https://golang.org/doc/install/source#environment. |
| `queryOptions` | [object](#queryoptions) | No | For data source plugins. There is a query options section in the plugin's query editor and these options can be turned on if needed. |
| `routes` | [object](#routes)[] | No | For data source plugins. Proxy routes used for plugin authentication and adding headers to HTTP requests made by the plugin. For more information, refer to [Add authentication for data source plugins]({{< relref "add-authentication-for-data-source-plugins.md">}}). |
| `grafanaDependency` | string | **Yes** | Required Grafana version for this plugin. Validated using https://github.com/npm/node-semver. |
| `grafanaVersion` | string | No | (Deprecated) Required Grafana version for this plugin, e.g. `6.x.x 7.x.x` to denote plugin requires Grafana v6.x.x or v7.x.x. |
| `plugins` | [object](#plugins)[] | No | An array of required plugins on which this plugin depends. |
### plugins
Plugin dependency. Used to display information about plugin dependencies in the Grafana UI.
| `addToNav` | boolean | No | Add the include to the side menu. |
| `component` | string | No | (Legacy) The Angular component to use for a page. |
| `defaultNav` | boolean | No | Page or dashboard when user clicks the icon in the side menu. |
| `icon` | string | No | Icon to use in the side menu. For information on available icon, refer to [Icons Overview](https://developers.grafana.com/ui/latest/index.html?path=/story/docs-overview-icon--icons-overview). |
| `name` | string | No | |
| `path` | string | No | Used for app plugins. |
| `role` | string | No | Possible values are: `Admin`, `Editor`, `Viewer`. |
| `type` | string | No | Possible values are: `dashboard`, `page`, `panel`, `datasource`. |
| `description` | string | No | Description of plugin. Used on the plugins page in Grafana and for search on grafana.com. |
| `links` | [object](#links)[] | No | An array of link objects to be displayed on this plugin's project page in the form `{name: 'foo', url: 'http://example.com'}` |
| `screenshots` | [object](#screenshots)[] | No | An array of screenshot objects in the form `{name: 'bar', path: 'img/screenshot.png'}` |
| `large` | string | **Yes** | Link to the "large" version of the plugin logo, which must be an SVG image. "Large" and "small" logos can be the same image. |
| `small` | string | **Yes** | Link to the "small" version of the plugin logo, which must be an SVG image. "Large" and "small" logos can be the same image. |
### screenshots
#### Properties
| Property | Type | Required | Description |
|----------|--------|----------|-------------|
| `name` | string | No | |
| `path` | string | No | |
## queryOptions
For data source plugins. There is a query options section in the plugin's query editor and these options can be turned on if needed.
| `cacheTimeout` | boolean | No | For data source plugins. If the `cache timeout` option should be shown in the query options section in the query editor. |
| `maxDataPoints` | boolean | No | For data source plugins. If the `max data points` option should be shown in the query options section in the query editor. |
| `minInterval` | boolean | No | For data source plugins. If the `min interval` option should be shown in the query options section in the query editor. |
For data source plugins. Proxy routes used for plugin authentication and adding headers to HTTP requests made by the plugin. For more information, refer to [Add authentication for data source plugins]({{< relref "add-authentication-for-data-source-plugins.md">}}).
