diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QHelpContentPlugin.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QHelpContentPlugin.java
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+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/instances/QHelpContentPlugin.java
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+/*
+ * QQQ - Low-code Application Framework for Engineers.
+ * Copyright (C) 2021-2025.  Kingsrook, LLC
+ * 651 N Broad St Ste 205 # 6917 | Middletown DE 19709 | United States
+ * contact@kingsrook.com
+ * https://github.com/Kingsrook/
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as
+ * published by the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the
+ * License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.instances;
+
+
+import java.util.Map;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.QInstance;
+import com.kingsrook.qqq.backend.core.model.metadata.help.QHelpContent;
+
+
+/*******************************************************************************
+ * interface that can be added to a QSupplementalInstanceMetaData, to receive
+ * QHelpContent records during instance boot or upon updates in the help content
+ * table.
+ *******************************************************************************/
+public interface QHelpContentPlugin
+{
+   /***************************************************************************
+    * accept a single helpContent record, and apply its data to some data in the
+    * qInstance
+    *
+    * @param qInstance the active qInstance, that the content should be applied to
+    * @param helpContent entity with values from HelpContent table
+    * @param nameValuePairs parsed string -> string map from the help content key.
+    ***************************************************************************/
+   void acceptHelpContent(QInstance qInstance, QHelpContent helpContent, Map<String, String> nameValuePairs);
+}