| Scripts, utilities, or instructions that add to the functionality of a program without changing the program's base code. Plug-ins provide a way to add functionality to an application without completely upgrading. Applications that can accept plug-ins often have a built-in way to accommodate them. Two common applications which use plug-ins are Adobe Photoshop and Netscape Navigator. The Macromedia Shockwave plug-in, for example, allows special animated World Wide Web content to be displayed in Navigator. With Photoshop, plug-ins can contribute special effects and filters that weren't included in the original program. |
| A plug-in is an add-on program that provides additional features to another program or enhances the features already in the other
program. A plug-in usually is a small piece of software, such as a script or utility, that provides a quick update to the main
software program without the need for a full-fledged upgrade. Plug-ins also are handy for adding optional features to a software package. Computer users who want the additional features can download the plug-in; users who don't want to waste disk space
with a feature they won't use can ignore the plug-in.
For some pieces of software, the manufacturer will create and
distribute all plug-ins. For other pieces of software, users can write and submit their own plug-ins. Many times, a manufacturer will collect the best plug-ins and add them to any subsequent version
releases of the software as an upgrade.
One of the better-known software packages that makes common use of plug-ins is the Netscape Web browser. Users who visit
the Netscape browser Web site (http://home.netscape.com
/plugins) can search through a list of available plug-ins for the browser. Several software packages from Adobe and Microsoft, such as Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft PowerPoint, make use of
plug-ins, as well. |
