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

# Provider Protocols

> Discover Providers, create Workspace connections, choose authentication, and control data streams.

A **Provider** is a system that contributes data to a Workspace, such as
GitHub, Linear, Slack, or Workday. A **Provider Plugin** describes how Parable
can work with that system. A **Provider connection** is the configured copy in
your Workspace.

```mermaid theme={null}
flowchart LR
  D["Provider Directory"] --> P["Provider Plugin"]
  P --> C["Workspace connection"]
  C --> S["Enabled data streams"]
  S --> Q["Provider Pool"]
```

Use the Provider protocols to:

* [browse available Providers](/protocols/workspace/providers/directory),
* [create and manage Provider connections](/protocols/workspace/providers/connections),
* [supply or refresh authentication](/protocols/workspace/providers/authentication),
* [choose which data streams run](/protocols/workspace/providers/data-streams), and
* [request a missing Provider](/protocols/workspace/providers/requests).

The generated Workspace API reference contains the exact HTTP contract, SDK
examples, and MCP mapping for each operation. To query the resulting tables,
start with the [SQL primer](/protocols/sql).

<Info>
  Protocol identifiers retain historical names such as `connector`, `vendor`,
  `tenantConnector`, and `tap`. The guides use Provider, Provider connection,
  Workspace, and data stream for the corresponding product concepts.
</Info>