dracut module
also: dracut plugin
A dracut module is a collection of scripts and configuration files that extend dracut's functionality to handle specific hardware, filesystems, or boot requirements during Linux kernel initialization and early userspace setup.
Dracut is the initramfs generator used by many modern Linux distributions. A dracut module is a plugin mechanism that allows customization of the initial ramdisk (initramfs) without modifying dracut's core code. Each module is typically a directory containing shell scripts that hook into dracut's build process.
Modules can add drivers, configure networking, mount special filesystems, or perform custom initialization tasks. For example, the crypt module adds LUKS encryption support, while the network module enables network boot capabilities. Modules are discovered from standard locations like /usr/lib/dracut/modules.d/.
You can list available modules with dracut --list-modules or include/exclude specific ones when building an initramfs with flags like dracut --add crypt --omit network. Custom modules can be created for specialized boot scenarios.