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# Configuration overview

> Understand adapter configuration and how to connect adapters to external systems.

Configure adapters to connect to external systems using service instance properties, authentication, and endpoint configuration.

## What is adapter configuration

Configuration defines how adapters connect to and communicate with external systems without modifying code.

* **Service instance configuration**: Connection settings, authentication, global behavior
* **Endpoint configuration**: API call definitions, schemas, request/response handling

**Configuration changes properties only** - No code changes required.

## Configuration vs customization

### Use configuration for

* Connection settings (host, port, protocol)
* Authentication methods and credentials
* SSL/TLS certificates
* Request timeouts and retries
* Health check behavior
* API endpoint definitions
* Request/response data translation
* HTTP headers and parameters

### Use customization for

* Complex validation logic
* Business rules enforcement
* Data transformations beyond schema translation
* Multi-step workflows
* Dynamic behavior not supported by configuration

[Customization overview →](/adapters/customize/examples)

## What's next

#### [Service instance configuration](/adapters/configure/service-instance-configuration/properties/overview)

Configure connection and auth

#### [Authentication](/adapters/authentication/overview)

Authentication methods

#### [Endpoint configuration](/adapters/configure/schemas/overview)

Configure API calls

#### [Configure SSL/TLS](/adapters/configure/tls)

Set up certificates

#### [Configure throttling](/adapters/configure/throttling)

Rate limiting

#### [Configure headers](/adapters/configure/headers)

HTTP headers

> Understand adapter configuration and how to connect adapters to external systems.