:_mod-docs-content-type: CONCEPT

// Module included in the following assemblies:
//
// overview/overview.adoc
// assembly-http-bridge-overview.adoc

[id='con-overview-components-http-bridge-clients_{context}']

= Supported clients for the HTTP Bridge

[role="_abstract"]
You can use the HTTP Bridge to integrate both _internal_ and _external_ HTTP client applications with your Kafka cluster.

Internal clients:: Internal clients are container-based HTTP clients running in _the same_ Kubernetes cluster as the HTTP Bridge itself.
Internal clients can access the HTTP Bridge on the host and port defined in the `KafkaBridge` custom resource.

External clients:: External clients are HTTP clients running _outside_ the Kubernetes cluster in which the HTTP Bridge is deployed and running.
External clients can access the HTTP Bridge through an OpenShift Route, a loadbalancer service, or using an Ingress.

.HTTP internal and external client integration

image:kafka-bridge.png[Internal and external HTTP producers and consumers exchange data with the Kafka brokers through the HTTP Bridge]
