Plug-In

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What Does Plug-In Mean?

A plug-in is an element of a software program that can be added to provide support for specific features or functionality.

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Plug-ins are commonly used in Internet browsers but also can be utilized in numerous other types of applications.

Techopedia Explains Plug-In

In general, plug-ins are part of an array of software components known as add-ons. Programs may be changed by different kinds of add-ons in different ways.

In popular technologies, like Internet browsers and audio/video applications, the ability to utilize plug-ins makes products more versatile and allows transparent and convenient customization according to the user's desired features. Plug-ins also can enable easier software upgrades or patches or additions by project collaborators. Plug-ins also can be a strategy for dealing with complex software licensing.

One plug-in example is the range of customizable options common with browsers like Mozilla Firefox. Users can download individual plug-ins for this free Web browser tool to promote different results on devices.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.