Plug-in (computing)

In computing, a plug-in (or: plugin, add-in, addin, add-on, addon, extension) is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing software application.

Description

Common examples include the plug-ins used in web browsers to add new features such as search engines, virus scanners, or the ability to utilize a new file type such as a new video format.

Well-known browser plug-ins include the Adobe Flash Player, the QuickTime Player, and the Java plug-in, which can launch a user-activated Java applet on a web page to its execution on a local Java virtual machine.

Themes (skins)

A theme or skin is a preset package containing additional or changed graphical appearance details.

This is achieved by the use of a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users to customize the look and feel of a piece of computer software or an operating system.

Extensibility

Plug-ins demonstrate the extensibility principle.

See also

• Adobe Flash Player
• Computing
• Extensibility
• Firebug (software)
• Java applet
• jQuery plugins
• Web browser

External links

• Plug-in (computing) @ Wikipedia