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A WordPress plugin is a small piece of software that extends the functionality of a WordPress website.
Plugins are essential for using WordPress to create excellent websites. They make it easier for users to add features to their websites without knowing a single line of code.
Over 50,000+ free plugins are listed in the WordPress.org plugin directory, in addition to the thousands of premium WordPress plugins developed by independent developers like ourselves.
plug-in explanation
WordPress plugins are apps that enable you to add new features and functionality to your WordPress website, much like how mobile apps function on your smartphone. There’s a plugin for that, as the saying goes among WordPress users. WordPress is made to allow for the addition of custom code by other programmers. A wide range of hooks and filters are available in the WordPress plugin API, enabling developers to change or add to the functionality already present in WordPress.
Your plugins can be found in the admin sidebar on the Plugins » Add New page. Here, you can install new plugins, activate and deactivate your current ones. Installed plugins for WordPress. See our guide on WordPress plugins for more information on what they are and how they operate.
How to Install a Plugin in WordPress?
A WordPress plugin can be quickly found and installed from the Plugins » Add New page in the admin sidebar. You can browse or conduct a search in the WordPress plugin repository from there to find the one you require.
Obtain Plugin
Click “Install Now” when you’ve located the plugin you want to install, then wait while it installs. After the installation is complete, you must click “Activate” before your plugin is usable.
As the site administrator, you can also modify the settings for a plugin, deactivate them, or delete the plugin entirely from your WordPress website. You might have plugins on your site that you no longer need as your site develops over time. To enhance the functionality of your site, it’s critical that you properly uninstall those plugins.
How to Update Plugins in WordPress
Every time a plugin is updated by a reputable developer, your admin toolbar and admin sidebar will display a notification.
Update Notifications for Plugins
You must click the icon when you receive an update notification in order to go to the ‘Updates’ page. Other updates, such as those to the WordPress core or themes, will also be visible on this page.
Now update plugin
Read our step-by-step tutorial on how to properly manage and update WordPress plugins for more information.
If there are any minor updates to the plugins you use and trust, you might want to enable automatic updates. If so, you should read our tutorial on how to manage automatic WordPress updates better.
How to Make a Plugin for WordPress
You need a basic understanding of coding languages like PHP, CSS, HTML, and JavaScript in order to create a plugin. A local development environment for Windows or Mac is also required if you want to test your WordPress plugin locally.
You’ll use a plain text editor to write your code. It’s fine to use Notepad or TextEdit, but if you’d like to try something more sophisticated, take a look at these code editors for developers.
Once you have the necessary equipment, you can create your first WordPress plugin by following our step-by-step beginner’s guide. You can also use a plugin to create a plugin if you’d rather do it without writing any code.
Once a WordPress plugin has been developed, it can be added to the WordPress Plugin Directory so that others can find and utilize it.
There is no such thing as safety. Some plugins might be poorly coded, and others might clash with your theme or another plugin. WordPress plugins that have been poorly coded can also be used by hackers to break websites.
Because of this, it’s crucial to only select plugins from reliable plugin repositories or independent plugin developers you know and trust.
Fortunately, you can learn a lot about a plugin before you decide to install it on your website. In the section below, we list some of the criteria you should consider when selecting a plugin.
A deactivated plugin
Using a WordPress security plugin like Sucuri, which scans thousands of websites, makes it possible to identify plugin security issues quickly and safeguards the security of your entire website, is another way to keep your website safe.
Check out our guide on how many WordPress plugins you should install if you’re worried about installing too many and slowing down your website. Here, we’ll explain how plugins affect your website and demonstrate how to pick the best plugin combination.
How to Pick the Correct Plugin
Selecting the best plugin can be confusing with so many WordPress plugins available. The same function can be performed by numerous plugins, some of which have better coding than others.
Free plugins can be a great starting point for your WordPress website if you’re new to the platform or have a tight budget.
You might swap out some of your free plugins for premium ones that offer better support and compatibility with your website as your website gets bigger.
When selecting a free plugin, you should consider the following inquiries:
When was the last time this plugin was updated?
Is it compatible with WordPress’ most recent version?
Are people getting responses to their questions about support?
How is the plugin rated by other users?
In our article on how to pick the best WordPress plugin, we go into more detail about selecting a free plugin.
High-end plugins
The paid versions of WordPress plugins known as “premium plugins” offer more features, priority support, documentation, and frequent updates. These are crucial factors to take into account as your business expands.
We assist you in thinking through the issues of how and when you can start switching to premium plugins in our guide on when it’s worthwhile to purchase premium WordPress plugins.
Because there are so many WordPress plugins available, beginners frequently become perplexed when attempting to choose the best ones. We frequently get inquiries about the best plugin to use when integrating particular features into a WordPress website.
To make your life easier, WPBeginner offers step-by-step installation guides in addition to testing and reviewing the top WordPress plugins.
On WPBeginner, you can find our picks for the top WordPress plugins, and you can look through the list below for comparisons of the top plugins for various uses.
