# Connectors

## What are Connectors?

Connectors are specialized components that connect telemetry pipelines, transforming data between signal types or routing telemetry into different downstream pipelines. Unlike processors that modify data within a single pipeline, connectors can **change the telemetry type** (for example, convert logs to metrics) or **split data flows** across pipelines.

## Connector Categories

### Signal transformation

Convert telemetry from one signal type to another.

* Example: logs → metrics, traces → metrics.

### Routing & splitting

Split telemetry into different downstream pipelines based on conditions. This is useful when different downstream pipelines have different processing or destinations.

### Aggregation & counting

Aggregate or count telemetry events to produce new metrics.

## Available Connectors

| Connector                                                                                 | Input                 | Output        | Description                                                                                 |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------- | ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [Count](https://docs.bindplane.com/integrations/connectors/count)                         | Logs, Metrics, Traces | Metrics       | Count telemetry items and emit totals as metrics                                            |
| [Routing](https://docs.bindplane.com/integrations/connectors/routing)                     | Logs, Metrics, Traces | Same as input | Route telemetry to downstream pipelines using OTTL conditions                               |
| [Signal to Metrics](https://docs.bindplane.com/integrations/connectors/signal-to-metrics) | Logs, Metrics, Traces | Metrics       | Generate custom metrics from any telemetry type using OTTL expressions                      |
| [Span Metrics](https://docs.bindplane.com/integrations/connectors/span-metrics)           | Traces                | Metrics       | Generate R.E.D metrics (calls, errors, duration) from spans. Supports exemplars and events. |

## When to Use Connectors

Use a connector when you need to:

* Generate R.E.D metrics from spans (calls, errors, duration) with [Span Metrics](https://docs.bindplane.com/integrations/connectors/span-metrics)
* Count telemetry volume as metrics with [Count](https://docs.bindplane.com/integrations/connectors/count)
* Create custom metrics from any telemetry data with [Signal to Metrics](https://docs.bindplane.com/integrations/connectors/signal-to-metrics)
* Route telemetry to different downstream pipelines with [Routing](https://docs.bindplane.com/integrations/connectors/routing)

Use a processor instead when you:

* Want to modify data without changing its type
* Need to filter, enrich, or transform within the same signal type

## Getting Started

1. Navigate to a V2 configuration.
2. Connect a source to a destination.
3. Click the edge between the source and destination.
4. Add a connector.

{% hint style="info" %}
Connectors connect **pipelines**. Processors operate **inside** a pipeline.
{% endhint %}


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