What Is FiveM?

FiveM is a multiplayer modification framework for Grand Theft Auto V. It lets players join community-operated servers with custom game modes, maps, vehicles, interfaces, and scripts. Server owners control the rules and resources, while developers build gameplay using Lua, JavaScript, or C#.

FiveM is part of the Cfx.re platform. It is separate from GTA Online: joining a FiveM server does not place you in Rockstar Games’ official GTA Online service, and each community server manages its own players, permissions, economy, and gameplay.

How a FiveM Server Works

A typical FiveM setup has four layers:

Layer	Purpose
FXServer	Runs the server process and loads configuration
Resources	Add scripts, maps, vehicles, interfaces, and other features
Clients	Connect players and run client-side game logic
Management tools	Configure, monitor, and restart the server, commonly with txAdmin

The server reads server.cfg, starts the configured resources, and accepts clients through its network endpoint. Each resource has its own folder and an fxmanifest.lua manifest that declares scripts, files, dependencies, and metadata.

FiveM Resources

A resource is a self-contained package of functionality. It can include:

Lua, JavaScript, or C# scripts
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for NUI interfaces
Maps, models, textures, sounds, and data files
Configuration shared by client and server scripts

A minimal resource looks like this:


my-resource/
├── fxmanifest.lua
├── client.lua
└── server.lua


fx_version "cerulean"
game "gta5"
 
client_script "client.lua"
server_script "server.lua"

Place resources inside the server’s resources directory and add ensure my-resource to server.cfg. Resource names should be unique and avoid spaces.

Client, Server, and NUI Contexts

FiveM code runs in distinct contexts:

Server scripts handle authoritative game logic, permissions, persistence, and server-side integrations.
Client scripts handle player input, local entities, rendering, and native game functions.
NUI pages run in an embedded browser and provide HTML-based interfaces.

Use FiveM events to communicate between client and server. Treat all client-supplied data as untrusted and validate important actions on the server.

Frameworks vs Standalone Resources

A FiveM framework is a collection of resources and conventions for common roleplay features such as characters, jobs, inventories, money, and database access.

Option	Best fit
Standalone	Custom game modes or small resources without a shared roleplay core
QBCore	Roleplay servers using the QBCore ecosystem
ESX	Established roleplay servers using ESX resources
Qbox	Modern roleplay projects using the Qbox ecosystem

You do not need a framework to run FiveM. Choose one only when its ecosystem and data model match the server you intend to build.

What You Need

To host a basic server, prepare:

A supported Windows or Linux system
Current FXServer artifacts
A Cfx.re account and FiveM license key
A server data directory containing server.cfg
Network access to the configured server endpoint

txAdmin is included with modern FXServer builds and provides a guided setup, recipe deployment, monitoring, and administration interface.

Start Here

For platform installation and policy details, use the official Cfx.re documentation as the primary source. This site focuses on practical explanations, safe examples, and troubleshooting paths for server owners and developers.