Wayfinders were ancient technological artifacts fashioned by both the Jedi and the Sith. Their purpose was to navigate the treacherous expanses of space. These devices were the result of studying the brains of purrgil, colossal space-faring creatures capable of traversing hyperspace via biological means. Both the Jedi and Sith chose to infuse their wayfinders with the Force, requiring a Force-sensitive individual to activate them, ensuring both secrecy and security. Jedi star compasses shared similar designs to wayfinders.
The Sith of old discovered methods for navigating the perilous anomalies of the Galactic Barrier. This allowed them to locate worlds within the Unknown Regions, using them as strategic bases or constructing temples. However, these techniques were lost to time, with the routes solely preserved within Sith wayfinders.
In 35 ABY, Kylo Ren acquired Darth Vader's Sith wayfinder following his assault on Mustafar. A few days later, Rey deciphered Sith engravings on Ochi's dagger to locate a second wayfinder within the wreckage of the DS-2 Death Star II Mobile Battle Station on Kef Bir, the ocean moon of Endor. Rey discovered the wayfinder inside the Emperor's private vault within the ruins of the throne room. While there, she was confronted with a vision of a corrupted, dark side version of herself. Rey retrieved the wayfinder from a section of a broken pillar, where it hovered, surrounded by a shimmering green light. Upon leaving the chamber, Kylo Ren seized the second wayfinder from Rey and destroyed it, declaring that the only way she could reach Exegol was through him. However, after defeating Kylo Ren in combat, Rey came to possess the wayfinder that Ren had taken from Mustafar when she stole Kylo Ren's TIE whisper. After burning the ship on Ahch-To, Rey discovered the other wayfinder in the wreckage and used it to navigate to Exegol in Luke's X-wing starfighter. While traveling, she transmitted the coordinates to the Resistance, enabling them to confront the First Order, the Sith Eternal, and Darth Sidious once and for all.
Both of these Sith wayfinders served as guides to Exegol, the hidden Sith world situated within the Unknown Regions.
Once activated, wayfinders could interface with technology and flight systems to provide navigation. The wayfinders were mentioned in the ancient Jedi texts on multiple occasions, suggesting that the wayfinders themselves are thousands of years old.