What is a WordPress Plugin?

A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website and much more, see now!

By Claudio Pires
Updated on July 25, 2022
What is a WordPress Plugin?

A plugin is a piece of software containing a group of functions that can be added to a WordPress website. They can extend functionality or add new features to your WordPress websites. WP plugi-ns are written in the PHP programming language and integrate seamlessly with WordPress.

What is a WordPress Plugin?

In the WordPress community, a saying goes around: “there’s a plug-in for that.” They make it easy for users to add features to their website without knowing a single line of code. There are thousands of free downloads available in the official WordPress plugin directory. At Visualmodo, we write about all the best WP plugins. We have even shared a list of all the plugins we use. Aside from free plugins, there are tons of amazing commercial ones available from third-party companies and developers.

What is a WordPress Plugin?
What is a WordPress Plugin?

You can install/uninstall plugins from the admin area as a site administrator. You can also download and manually install them using an FTP client.

Because most WordPress plugins are free, it is essential to note that they usually do not come with tech support. For this reason, it is necessary to be careful when choosing which ones you want to install on your site. In addition, although plugins can do virtually anything, some are much higher quality than others.

To choose the right ones, you should ask yourself several questions. How long has it been since it was updated? Is it compatible with the latest version of WordPress? Are people getting answers to their support questions? What type of rating does it have?

There is a myth that WP plug-ins slow your site down. As a result, It is not valid. In conclusion, only the number of bad ones will slow down your site. Moreover, all the Visualmodo WP themes are fully compatible with WordPress plugin for any function you want.

Most popular WordPress plugins
Most popular WordPress plugins

How To Install Plug-ins?

The easiest way to install a WordPress plugin is to use the plugin finder. The only downside to this option is that the plugin must be in the WordPress directory, which is limited to free plugins. Firstly, you must visit Plugins – Add New Page in your WordPress admin.

Secondly, you will see a screen similar to the video above. Find plugins by entering the plugin name or the feature you’re looking for. After that, you will see a series of entries. You can choose the plugin that works best for you. When we searched for WPForms, the best WordPress contact form plugin in our search, we clicked the “Install Now” button next to it. WP will now download and install the plug-in for you. After that, you will notice that the “Install Now” button will change to the “Activate” button.

Claudio Pires

Claudio Pires is the co-founder of Visualmodo, a renowned company in web development and design. With over 15 years of experience, Claudio has honed his skills in content creation, web development support, and senior web designer. A trilingual expert fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, he brings a global perspective to his work. Beyond his professional endeavors, Claudio is an active YouTuber, sharing his insights and expertise with a broader audience. Based in Brazil, Claudio continues to push the boundaries of web design and digital content, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.