# What are connections?
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You can use the *connections* feature in the Developer Tools console to connect AWS resources such as AWS CodePipeline to external code repositories. This feature has its own API, the [AWS CodeConnections API reference](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/codeconnections/latest/APIReference/Welcome.html). Each connection is a resource that you can give to AWS services to connect to a third-party repository, such as Bitbucket. For example, you can add the connection in CodePipeline so that it triggers your pipeline when a code change is made to your third-party code repository. Each connection is named and associated with a unique Amazon Resource Name (ARN) that is used to reference the connection. 

**Important**  
The service name AWS CodeStar Connections has been renamed. Resources created with the previous namespace codestar-connections will still be supported.

## What can I do with connections?
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You can use connections to integrate third-party provider resources with your AWS resources in developer tools, including:
+ Connect to a third-party provider, such as Bitbucket, and use the third-party connection as a source integration with your AWS resources, such as CodePipeline.
+ Uniformly manage access to your connection across your resources in CodeBuild build projects, CodeDeploy applications, and pipelines in CodePipeline for your third-party provider.
+ Use a connection ARN in your stack templates for CodeBuild build projects, CodeDeploy applications, and pipelines in CodePipeline, without the need to reference stored secrets or parameters.

## What AWS services integrate with connections?
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You can use connections to integrate your third-party repository with other AWS services. To view the service integrations for connections, see [Product and service integrations with AWS CodeConnections](integrations-connections.md).

## How do I get started with connections?
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To get started, here are some useful topics to review:
+ **Learn** about the [concepts](concepts-connections.md) for connections.
+ **Set up** the [resources you need](setting-up-connections.md) to start working with connections.
+ **Get started** with your [first connections](getting-started-connections.md) and connect them to a resource.