TL;DR: What are WordPress plugins?: They do everything, and then some. We look into what they are, what they do and where to get them.
What they are, what they do & when to use them
“What are WordPress plugins?”
Clients occasionally ask us this question, and it’s not quite as simple as it sounds to answer.
What are WordPress plugins?
A plugin is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program. When a program supports plugins, it enables customisation and allows users to add new features or modify existing ones without having to modify the core code of the program.
Plugins are commonly used in web browsers, media players, and content management systems (WordPress in our case). We’ll focus on this latter category.
At the time of writing there are nearly 60,000 free plugins in the WordPress repository (similar to the Play or App store, but for WordPress plugins (WP Plugin), with a similar amount available from other sources away from the protection of WordPress. Then there are the premium plugins, which are on either a subscription basis or a one-off payment.
We even have made a Wordpress plugin just to annoy Matt Mullenweg (available from our Downloads page) – WP has built into its core that it auto corrects wordpress to WordPress. We dont like the idea of Matt having that much influence on our sites, so we created the plugin – free to down load & use.
WP plugins are coded in PHP to fit with WordPress’ core code, and then HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are used to create the final product.
What do WordPress plugins do?
What don’t they do would be easier to answer. But the very long and short of it is, they add functionality to a website. They can add security, assist with SEO, and aid caching.
If you want to use your website for ecommerce, then the chances are you’ll use one of the most widely used WP Plugins – WooCommerce. For SEO assistance, then you’ll look towards Yoast SEO, RankMath, or AIOSEO.
We used a booking plugin for our client, The Pickled Crab
However, there is a downside. Too many plugins can slow or hamper a website’s performance. How many plugins is too many? There’s no definitive answer, but it’s important to choose high-quality plugins and use as few as possible.
Conclusion: What are WordPress plugins?
Some in the web design community believe that you should only use a handful of plugins and code the rest. While this is a noble ideal, it’s important to consider the potential ramifications. Coding everything from scratch can be time-consuming and expensive, especially for small businesses and individuals.
Plugins offer a convenient and affordable way to add functionality to your WordPress website. However, it’s important to choose high-quality plugins from trusted developers. Too many plugins can slow down your website and make it more vulnerable to security attacks, so wp maintenance is important to reduce exposure
Here are a few tips for choosing and using WordPress plugins:
- Only install plugins from trusted developers.
Read the plugin reviews before installing it. - Keep your plugins up to date.
- Use only the plugins that you absolutely need.
- If you’re unsure which plugins to use, or if you need help installing or configuring them, consult with a qualified web designer / developer.
- Ultimately, the best way to decide how many plugins to use is to weigh the benefits against the risks. If a plugin adds essential functionality to your website and doesn’t slow it down, then there’s no harm in using it.
However, if you can achieve the same result by coding your own solution, then that may be the better option in the long run.
