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by Answer Rabbit on April 11th, 2006

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In basic web design, what is a plug-in?

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  • by tiffytiff on April 11th, 2006

    tiffytiff

    A plugin (or plug-in) is a computer program that can, or must, interact with another program to provide a certain, usually very specific, function. Typical examples are plugins to display specific graphic formats (e.g., SVG if the program doesn't support this format natively), to play multimedia files, to encrypt/decrypt email (e.g., PGP), or to filter images in graphic programs. The main program (a web browser or an email client, for example) provides a way for plugins to register themselves with the program, and a protocol by which data is exchanged with plugins.

    Plugins are slightly different from extensions, which modify or add to existing functionality. The main difference is that plugins generally run within a sandbox, rely on the main program's user interface, and have a well-defined boundary to their possible set of actions. Extensions generally have less restrictions on their actions, and may provide their own user interfaces. They are sometimes used to decrease the size of the main program and offer optional functions. Mozilla Firefox uses a well-developed extension system to reduce the feature creep that plagued the Mozilla Application Suite.

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