Hostinger: What Is a WordPress Plugin: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

WordPress plugins are a crucial aspect of building WordPress websites as they allow users to add additional features without touching a single line of code. Plugins help make WordPress the easy-to-use, flexible, and feature-rich content management system it's known today.

Having a basic knowledge of plugins is essential for every WordPress user, and we're here to help. You'll learn what WordPress plugins are, how to use them, and what types of plugins are out there.

• What Is a WordPress Plugin?
• How to Add WordPress Plugins to Your Website?
• How to Update a WordPress Plugin?
• How to Remove or Deactivate WordPress Plugins?
• How Do WordPress Plugins Affect the Website Performance?
• What Types of WordPress Plugins Are There?
  • 1. Security
  • 2. Website Optimization
  • 3. Contact Forms Plugins
  • 4. Caching Plugins
  • 5. Booking Plugins
  • 6. Google Analytics Plugins
  • 7. SEO Plugins
  • 8. Pop-up Plugins
  • 9. Image Optimization Plugins
• Where Can I Get WordPress Plugins?
• What Is a WordPress Plugin FAQ
  • What Are Plugins On a Website?
  • Why Do I Need Plugins?

What Is a WordPress Plugin?

A WordPress plugin is a software that integrates with your WordPress site to enhance or add new features, enabling the creation of diverse websites such as online stores, portfolios, and directories.

What Is a WordPress Plugin?

A WordPress plugin is a software that integrates with your WordPress site to enhance or add new features, enabling the creation of diverse websites such as online stores, portfolios, and directories.

Think of the WordPress core software as a brand-new smartphone with factory settings. It's usable, but most users install additional apps to enhance the day-to-day use of their device and overall functionality. These apps are free to download, install, and uninstall whenever you like.

WordPress plugins work similarly. Over 58,000 plugins are available to download from the WordPress plugin directory. Whatever your site's needs are, there's most likely a plugin to achieve them.

While there are many free WordPress plugins available, you can also get premium or paid options. Free plugins offer basic functionality, while the paid options offer extra value like advanced features and dedicated support from developers.

How to Add WordPress Plugins to Your Website?

There are various ways to install a WordPress plugin, depending on where you got it from.

The first is the automatic method, which allows you to install plugins right from the WordPress admin area. The plugin directory is built into every WordPress core software for instant access.

1. From your admin screen, go to Plugins → Add New. You'll find a gallery of plugins that you can install on your WordPress site. Use the search bar to find a specific plugin easily.
2. After you find the one you want to install, select the Install Now button. For example, we will show you how to install Akismet, an anti-spam WordPress plugin with more than 5 million active installations.
3. Once the installation is complete, click Activate to turn on your new WordPress plugin.

You can also manually install WordPress plugins that you've downloaded from other third-party sources. WordPress allows you to upload, install, and activate plugins in ZIP format.

However, be careful as many cyber attackers take advantage of plugins as a way to attach malicious code to websites. Before you install WordPress plugins, always make sure that the plugin source is trustworthy.

1. Download the ZIP file of a plugin from a trusted source.
2. Go to Plugins → Add New.
3. Select Upload Plugin.
4. Drag and drop or choose the ZIP file that you have downloaded on your computer.
5. Click the Install Now button and wait until the upload is complete.
6. Select Activate Plugin.

How to Update a WordPress Plugin?

It's essential to keep your WordPress site up to date. This includes updating to the latest version of WordPress as well as refreshing your themes and plugins.

Updating WordPress plugins isn't just about getting to add new features. It's also one of the primary ways to maintain your website's security. Previous versions of a WordPress plugin may have vulnerabilities that are addressed and fixed in later versions.

WordPress gives its users extensive flexibility when it comes to updating plugins. Users can decide which plugins should update automatically.

On your WordPress admin area, go to Plugins → Installed Plugins. You will see a table detailing the plugins you've installed on your site.

To manually update multiple plugins, select the plugins you want to update by checking their respective checkboxes. Then, select Update from the Bulk actions drop-down menu and click Apply.