> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/directus/directus/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Operation Extensions

> Create custom flow operation types

Operations are the building blocks of flows. You can create custom operations to extend automation capabilities.

## Creating an Operation

```bash theme={null}
npm init directus-extension
# Select "operation" as the extension type
```

## Operation Structure

```typescript theme={null}
import { defineOperationApi } from '@directus/extensions-sdk';

export default defineOperationApi({
  id: 'my-operation',
  handler: async ({ data }, { services, getSchema }) => {
    const schema = await getSchema();
    const itemsService = new services.ItemsService('articles', { schema });

    // Perform your operation logic
    const result = await itemsService.readByQuery({
      filter: data.filter,
    });

    return result;
  },
});
```

## App Component

Create a UI component for configuring the operation:

```typescript theme={null}
import { defineOperationApp } from '@directus/extensions-sdk';

export default defineOperationApp({
  id: 'my-operation',
  name: 'My Operation',
  icon: 'bolt',
  description: 'Custom operation',
  overview: ({ filter }) => [
    {
      label: 'Filter',
      text: JSON.stringify(filter),
    },
  ],
  options: [
    {
      field: 'filter',
      name: 'Filter',
      type: 'json',
      meta: {
        interface: 'input-code',
        options: {
          language: 'json',
        },
      },
    },
  ],
});
```

## Built-in Operations

Directus includes operations for:

* Item CRUD
* HTTP requests
* Email sending
* Conditional logic
* Data transformation
* Logging
* And more...

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Hooks" icon="webhook" href="/extensions/hooks">
    Create server hooks
  </Card>

  <Card title="Endpoints" icon="code" href="/extensions/endpoints">
    Create API endpoints
  </Card>
</CardGroup>