diff --git a/.changeset/calm-grapes-remember.md b/.changeset/calm-grapes-remember.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f21a074c74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/calm-grapes-remember.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/frontend-plugin-api': patch
+---
+
+Exposed `createComponentRef`, and ensured that produced refs and feature bits have a `toString` for easier debugging
diff --git a/packages/frontend-app-api/src/tree/resolveAppNodeSpecs.test.ts b/packages/frontend-app-api/src/tree/resolveAppNodeSpecs.test.ts
index 8dfa7aeea9..82f274b960 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-app-api/src/tree/resolveAppNodeSpecs.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-app-api/src/tree/resolveAppNodeSpecs.test.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ function makeExt(
     id,
     attachTo: { id: attachId, input: 'default' },
     disabled: status === 'disabled',
+    toString: expect.any(Function),
   } as Extension<unknown>;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/api-report.md b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/api-report.md
index 46599bd6c4..a292634d9a 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/api-report.md
@@ -428,6 +428,11 @@ export namespace createComponentExtension {
     >;
 }
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+export function createComponentRef<T extends {} = {}>(options: {
+  id: string;
+}): ComponentRef<T>;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function createExtension<
   TOutput extends AnyExtensionDataMap,
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/ExtensionBoundary.tsx b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/ExtensionBoundary.tsx
index d9bd41f2a9..9a8eb5b750 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/ExtensionBoundary.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/ExtensionBoundary.tsx
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ import { ErrorBoundary } from './ErrorBoundary';
 // eslint-disable-next-line @backstage/no-relative-monorepo-imports
 import { routableExtensionRenderedEvent } from '../../../core-plugin-api/src/analytics/Tracker';
 import { AppNode, useComponentRef } from '../apis';
-import { coreComponentRefs } from './ComponentRef';
+import { coreComponentRefs } from './coreComponentRefs';
 
 type RouteTrackerProps = PropsWithChildren<{
   disableTracking?: boolean;
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/ComponentRef.tsx b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/coreComponentRefs.ts
similarity index 82%
rename from packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/ComponentRef.tsx
rename to packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/coreComponentRefs.ts
index 50df9552ec..64412b8710 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/ComponentRef.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/coreComponentRefs.ts
@@ -19,22 +19,7 @@ import {
   CoreNotFoundErrorPageProps,
   CoreProgressProps,
 } from '../types';
-
-/** @public */
-export type ComponentRef<T extends {} = {}> = {
-  id: string;
-  T: T;
-};
-
-/** @public */
-export function createComponentRef<T extends {} = {}>(options: {
-  id: string;
-}): ComponentRef<T> {
-  const { id } = options;
-  return {
-    id,
-  } as ComponentRef<T>;
-}
+import { createComponentRef } from './createComponentRef';
 
 const coreProgressComponentRef = createComponentRef<CoreProgressProps>({
   id: 'core.components.progress',
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/createComponentRef.test.tsx b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/createComponentRef.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9a84fe08fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/createComponentRef.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { createComponentRef } from './createComponentRef';
+
+describe('createComponentRef', () => {
+  it('can be created and read', () => {
+    const ref = createComponentRef({ id: 'foo' });
+    expect(ref.id).toBe('foo');
+    expect(String(ref)).toBe('ComponentRef{id=foo}');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/createComponentRef.tsx b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/createComponentRef.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..88181dd079
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/createComponentRef.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+/** @public */
+export type ComponentRef<T extends {} = {}> = {
+  id: string;
+  T: T;
+};
+
+/** @public */
+export function createComponentRef<T extends {} = {}>(options: {
+  id: string;
+}): ComponentRef<T> {
+  const { id } = options;
+  return {
+    id,
+    toString() {
+      return `ComponentRef{id=${id}}`;
+    },
+  } as ComponentRef<T>;
+}
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/index.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/index.ts
index 893918059b..5066144000 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/index.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/components/index.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-export { coreComponentRefs, type ComponentRef } from './ComponentRef';
-
 export {
   ExtensionBoundary,
   type ExtensionBoundaryProps,
 } from './ExtensionBoundary';
+export { coreComponentRefs } from './coreComponentRefs';
+export { createComponentRef, type ComponentRef } from './createComponentRef';
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createApiExtension.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createApiExtension.test.ts
index 0636d0d79d..c4d0239094 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createApiExtension.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createApiExtension.test.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ describe('createApiExtension', () => {
         }),
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
   });
 
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ describe('createApiExtension', () => {
         }),
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createNavLogoExtension.test.tsx b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createNavLogoExtension.test.tsx
index 90e1448448..8c54743f1d 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createNavLogoExtension.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createNavLogoExtension.test.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ describe('createNavLogoExtension', () => {
         logos: expect.anything(),
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createPageExtension.test.tsx b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createPageExtension.test.tsx
index 2de72296ac..374400fce8 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createPageExtension.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createPageExtension.test.tsx
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ describe('createPageExtension', () => {
         routeRef: expect.anything(),
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
 
     expect(
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@ describe('createPageExtension', () => {
         routeRef: expect.anything(),
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
 
     expect(
@@ -112,6 +114,7 @@ describe('createPageExtension', () => {
         routeRef: expect.anything(),
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
   });
 
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createTranslationExtension.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createTranslationExtension.test.ts
index 3712da7185..975901b8e5 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createTranslationExtension.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/extensions/createTranslationExtension.test.ts
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ describe('createTranslationExtension', () => {
         resource: createTranslationExtension.translationDataRef,
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
 
     expect((extension as any).factory({} as any)).toEqual({
@@ -88,6 +89,7 @@ describe('createTranslationExtension', () => {
         resource: createTranslationExtension.translationDataRef,
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
 
     expect((extension as any).factory({} as any)).toEqual({ resource });
@@ -126,6 +128,7 @@ describe('createTranslationExtension', () => {
         resource: createTranslationExtension.translationDataRef,
       },
       factory: expect.any(Function),
+      toString: expect.any(Function),
     });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtension.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtension.test.ts
index 22db95082a..42ab21db80 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtension.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtension.test.ts
@@ -287,5 +287,8 @@ describe('createExtension', () => {
       },
     });
     expect(extension.namespace).toBe('test');
+    expect(String(extension)).toBe(
+      'ExtensionDefinition{namespace=test,attachTo=root@default}',
+    );
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtension.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtension.ts
index 0d6806fe49..be76fbc069 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtension.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtension.ts
@@ -166,5 +166,19 @@ export function createExtension<
         ...rest,
       });
     },
+    toString() {
+      const parts: string[] = [];
+      if (options.kind) {
+        parts.push(`kind=${options.kind}`);
+      }
+      if (options.namespace) {
+        parts.push(`namespace=${options.namespace}`);
+      }
+      if (options.name) {
+        parts.push(`name=${options.name}`);
+      }
+      parts.push(`attachTo=${options.attachTo.id}@${options.attachTo.input}`);
+      return `ExtensionDefinition{${parts.join(',')}}`;
+    },
   } as InternalExtensionDefinition<TConfig>;
 }
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f7a0dc82d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2023 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { createExtensionDataRef } from './createExtensionDataRef';
+
+describe('createExtensionDataRef', () => {
+  it('can be created and read', () => {
+    const ref = createExtensionDataRef('foo');
+    expect(ref.id).toBe('foo');
+    expect(String(ref)).toBe('ExtensionDataRef{id=foo,optional=false}');
+    const refOptional = ref.optional();
+    expect(refOptional.id).toBe('foo');
+    expect(String(refOptional)).toBe('ExtensionDataRef{id=foo,optional=true}');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
index d0d96e85f9..a7f4e4374e 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionDataRef.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,14 @@ export function createExtensionDataRef<TData>(
     $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionDataRef',
     config: {},
     optional() {
-      return { ...this, config: { ...this.config, optional: true } };
+      return {
+        ...this,
+        config: { ...this.config, optional: true },
+      };
     },
-  } as ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData>;
+    toString() {
+      const optional = Boolean(this.config.optional);
+      return `ExtensionDataRef{id=${id},optional=${optional}}`;
+    },
+  } as ConfigurableExtensionDataRef<TData, { optional?: true }>;
 }
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionOverrides.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionOverrides.test.ts
index de2d2f9a92..aa00247222 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionOverrides.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionOverrides.test.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ describe('createExtensionOverrides', () => {
         "$$type": "@backstage/ExtensionOverrides",
         "extensions": [],
         "featureFlags": [],
+        "toString": [Function],
         "version": "v1",
       }
     `);
@@ -74,6 +75,7 @@ describe('createExtensionOverrides', () => {
             "id": "a",
             "inputs": {},
             "output": {},
+            "toString": [Function],
             "version": "v1",
           },
           {
@@ -88,6 +90,7 @@ describe('createExtensionOverrides', () => {
             "id": "b",
             "inputs": {},
             "output": {},
+            "toString": [Function],
             "version": "v1",
           },
           {
@@ -102,10 +105,12 @@ describe('createExtensionOverrides', () => {
             "id": "k:c/n",
             "inputs": {},
             "output": {},
+            "toString": [Function],
             "version": "v1",
           },
         ],
         "featureFlags": [],
+        "toString": [Function],
         "version": "v1",
       }
     `);
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionOverrides.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionOverrides.ts
index 3c14d285b3..1f88038944 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionOverrides.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createExtensionOverrides.ts
@@ -38,11 +38,20 @@ export interface InternalExtensionOverrides extends ExtensionOverrides {
 export function createExtensionOverrides(
   options: ExtensionOverridesOptions,
 ): ExtensionOverrides {
+  const extensions = options.extensions.map(def =>
+    resolveExtensionDefinition(def),
+  );
+  const featureFlags = options.featureFlags ?? [];
   return {
     $$type: '@backstage/ExtensionOverrides',
     version: 'v1',
-    extensions: options.extensions.map(def => resolveExtensionDefinition(def)),
-    featureFlags: options.featureFlags ?? [],
+    extensions,
+    featureFlags,
+    toString() {
+      const ex = extensions.map(String).join(',');
+      const ff = featureFlags.map(f => f.name).join(',');
+      return `ExtensionOverrides{extensions=[${ex}],featureFlags=[${ff}]}`;
+    },
   } as InternalExtensionOverrides;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createPlugin.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createPlugin.test.ts
index d2f78122d3..c180dc9719 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createPlugin.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createPlugin.test.ts
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ describe('createPlugin', () => {
     const plugin = createPlugin({ id: 'test' });
 
     expect(plugin).toBeDefined();
+    expect(String(plugin)).toBe('Plugin{id=test}');
   });
 
   it('should create a plugin with extension instances', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createPlugin.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createPlugin.ts
index 67907e188e..797c46e58e 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createPlugin.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/createPlugin.ts
@@ -82,6 +82,9 @@ export function createPlugin<
     externalRoutes: options.externalRoutes ?? ({} as ExternalRoutes),
     featureFlags: options.featureFlags ?? [],
     extensions,
+    toString() {
+      return `Plugin{id=${options.id}}`;
+    },
   } as InternalBackstagePlugin<Routes, ExternalRoutes>;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/resolveExtensionDefinition.test.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/resolveExtensionDefinition.test.ts
index 9db9539ebb..8970cfe168 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/resolveExtensionDefinition.test.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/resolveExtensionDefinition.test.ts
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ describe('resolveExtensionDefinition', () => {
       ...definition,
     } as ExtensionDefinition<unknown>);
     expect(resolved.id).toBe(expected);
+    expect(String(resolved)).toBe(`Extension{id=${expected}}`);
   });
 
   it('should fail to resolve extension ID without namespace', () => {
diff --git a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/resolveExtensionDefinition.ts b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/resolveExtensionDefinition.ts
index d702120447..0a44de4ab4 100644
--- a/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/resolveExtensionDefinition.ts
+++ b/packages/frontend-plugin-api/src/wiring/resolveExtensionDefinition.ts
@@ -81,10 +81,15 @@ export function resolveExtensionDefinition<TConfig>(
     );
   }
 
+  const id = kind ? `${kind}:${namePart}` : namePart;
+
   return {
     ...rest,
     $$type: '@backstage/Extension',
     version: 'v1',
-    id: kind ? `${kind}:${namePart}` : namePart,
-  } as InternalExtension<TConfig>;
+    id,
+    toString() {
+      return `Extension{id=${id}}`;
+    },
+  } as Extension<TConfig>;
 }