What exactly are WordPress Plugins and how do they Work?
WordPress plugins have been around for years. They are the tools that make WordPress one of the most preferred platforms for building websites. They help bypass the coding part so that you can add the features you want on your website with ease. It is for this reason that you don’t have to learn programming to create your own website. WordPress does everything for you. All you need to do is to customize your website to your liking.
What are plugins?
WordPress plugins are basically apps that allow you to add features and functionalities to your website. They work in the same way apps add functionality to smartphones. There is no shortage of plugins. There are over 48,000 free plugins already available on WordPress.org plugin directory. From third party websites, you will find thousands more. There are also thousands of premium WordPress plugins which are sold by both individuals and companies.
WordPress was started back in 2003 as a platform for bloggers. Over the years, the platform has evolved into a powerful application framework and content management system. All this can be attributed to its plugins.
What can plugins do?
WordPress plugins are tiny apps that are integrated and run on the WordPress software. They make it easy to create just any kind of website; not just blogs. With the plugins, you will be able to do virtually anything including:
- Creating an online store
- Creating a job board
- Building business directories
- Creating coupon websites
- Building photography website
- Creating your own Wiki website
- Starting your podcast website
There is a plugin for almost anything that you want on your website. If the features you need are not on the default WordPress, you will find them in plugins. There are plugins for boosting performance, improving SEO, adding contact forms, adding social media buttons, creating galleries and more. Plugins can be small to add just a little feature or they can be large and act as a platform on their own.
How do plugins work?
The reason why WordPress has gained so much fame among developers is because it is created in a way that allows developers to add their unique codes into it. Developers have access to numerous hooks and filters that enable them to modify the functionality of WordPress or even add new functionalities. Developers can also store their data in the WordPress database.
Plugins are able to utilize the WordPress taxonomies, content types and custom fields. This allows users to store just any type of content not just the pages and posts. Each plugin that is installed is registered in the WordPress database. It can be activated or deactivated at any time. When the functionality is needed, WordPress will connect to the database and load the software then load the active plugins.
WordPress plugins will make your work easier as a developer. You only need to find the plugin that offers you exactly what you need. However, it is important to note that the use of too many plugins will slow the load speed of your website. Uninstall the plugins that you don’t need.