WHAT IS A WORDPRESS PLUGIN ?
WordPress is a powerful CMS which is used to create any website.It can be used to create blog,ecommerce website and portfolio websites.
WordPress has both backend and frontend features.It has many default features but if we want to create an application which requires some custom functionalities then we need to modify some existing functionalities.In this case instead of modifying existing code present in core files we can do it by extending the core functionality using any custom plugin.A plugin is nothing but collection of some functions which is used to extend the existing functionality or add new functionality towordpress.So by using plugins we do not need to modify wordpress files.
KEY FEATURES OF WORDPRESS PLUGINS:
1. Modular Design : Plugins are modular.This means that they do not depend on any other functionality.They work independently without depending on any other plugin of wordpress and they interact seamlessly with core files of wordpress.
2. Extend Functionality : Plugins provide features by which can modify or add functionality in wordpress .For example if we want to add a custom contact form in wordpress we can do it using plugin.For this we can create a shortcode in plugin and embed the shortcode in any of wordpress page.In this way we do not need to change any existing functionality . SImilarly if we want to create a booking widget or slider we can achieve this by using a custom plugin.
3. Ease Of Use : WordPress plugins can be easily installed and activated from the admin dashboard.You do not need coding experience for this.If you no longer want to use it you can deactivate it easily from the admin dashboard.
4. Customization : With wordpress plugins you can add any customization to wordpress site.Suppose you want to create a landing page for your website or you want to add heading for each page or you want o make any css change or you want to make any changes in checkout process and shipping
process.These all can be achieved by using a custom plugin.
WHY USE WORDPRESS PLUGINS ?
WordPress Plugins are widely used.The most three important factors which influences a developer and as well as store owner to use it are listed below:
1. New Features can be added easily :There are number of free and paid plugins available in marketplace.You just need to download and use without writing single line of code.With this you can add new features easily in the website.
2. Saves time and money :You do not need to hire developers for simpler tasks.You can do it using free or premium plugins easily without much coding knowledge.This will save your time and money both.
3. Enhances website performance :Using plugins you can boost performance of your website.There are SEO plugins ,Caching Plugins and security plugins using which will enhance website performance.
HOW WORDPRESS PLUGINS WORKS ?
Plugins use wordpress hooks – action and filters to extend or add a functionality .Hooks are the code to which we can add custom functions with a priority .When these hooks are called by wordpress core files then they trigger our custom function in order of priority.This will make our custom code run in an application.Action hooks are used to interact with the core files when any event occurs like saving a post or rendering a page. Filter hooks are used to modify the output before it is rendered like changing the title of page. Plugins can use any of the hook – action or filter to modify or add
a functionality.
TYPES OF WORDPRESS PLUGINS ?
There are basically three types of plugins:
1.Free Plugins : There are a number of free plugins developed by the community and are available in WordPress Plugin functionality.
2.Premium Plugins : There are a number of paid plugins provided by third party providers and they can be used with some license.
3.Custom Plugins : Custom plugins are usually developed by developers for customizing a website for specific functionality.
EXAMPLES OF WORDPRESS PLUGINS
1.WooCommerce: Woocommerce is a free plugin which adds eCommerce functionality to your WordPress site.This will create an online store for your website.
2.Yoast SEO: This is a free plugin with premium version available .This optimizes your website for search engines with features like XML sitemaps, meta descriptions, and readability checks.
3.Contact Form 7: This plugin allows you to create and manage contact forms easily.
4.WP Rocket: This is a caching plugin that improves website loading speed.
5.Wordfence Security: This is a free plugin with premium version available which enhances security by adding features like malware scanning, firewalls, and login protection.
Conclusion:
WordPress plugins are powerful tools that allow you to extend and customize your website without modifying core files. They save time, reduce development costs, and enhance your website’s functionality and performance. By understanding how plugins work, their types, and the popular examples available, you can make informed decisions when adding new features to your site.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you can learn how to create your own WordPress plugin from scratch in my next tutorial. Check it out here: Create a WordPress Plugin from Scratch.