# Extend the Collector

> Learn how to extend the OpenTelemetry Collector with custom components

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LLMS index: [llms.txt](/llms.txt)

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The OpenTelemetry Collector is designed to be extensible. While the core
Collector comes with a wide variety of receivers, processors, and exporters, you
may find that you need to support a custom protocol, process data in a specific
way, or send data to a proprietary backend.

This section guides you through extending the Collector using the
[OpenTelemetry Collector Builder (OCB)](./ocb/) and creating custom components.

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Section pages:

- [Build from source](/fr/docs/collector/extend/build-from-source/): Learn how to build the OpenTelemetry Collector from source
- [Build a custom Collector with OpenTelemetry Collector Builder](/fr/docs/collector/extend/ocb/): Assemble your own distribution of the OpenTelemetry Collector
- [Build custom components](/fr/docs/collector/extend/custom-component/): Instructions on how to build your own Collector components