WordPress Plugins

WordPress plugins are used to add features and functionality in WordPress website.

WordPress Themes mainly take care of website structure and designs while plugins extend the functionality of the website. You can add contact forms, gallery, slider, newsletter etc using plugins. Additionally, there are plugins that make your website secure, fast and SEO friendly.

WordPress plugins directory is located at “wordpress-website/wp-content/plugins“. You can find all installed plugins in this folder.


How to Install & Activate Plugins:

1: Using WordPress Dashboard Plugin Search

  1. Go to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add New
  2. Search with relevant keyword
  3. Click on Install (This will download plugin files in WordPress website)
  4. Click on Activate (This will enable plugin’s functionality in your website)
  5. Configure Plugin Settings (If required)

2: Using WordPress Dashboard Plugin Upload

  1. Go to WordPress.org Plugins and download the required plugin
  2. Go to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add New
  3. Click on upload and select plugin that is already downloaded.
  4. Click on Install and Activate (This will enable plugin’s functionality in your website)
  5. Configure Plugin Settings (If required)

3: Manually Copy into WordPress plugin directory:

  1. Go to WordPress.org Plugins and download the required plugin
  2. Copy Plugin folder into WordPress Plugins directory: website/wp-content/plugins
  3. Go to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins. You will find your plugins as installed.
  4. Click on Activate Plugin (This will enable plugin’s functionality in your website)
  5. Configure Plugin Settings (If required)

How Plugin Works:

The plugin is simply a folder or group of files which when included (via activation), provides some features for your WordPress website. Whenever you install and activate a plugin, some new features get enabled in WordPress.

For example, if you enable the WordPress gallery plugin, it will add a new “Gallery” item in the WordPress dashboard menu. Using the plugin’s menu pages, you can add and manage gallery images. Then in WordPress page/post editor, you find another button to insert your gallery into the content.

Similarly, A contact form plugin provides you with settings to create a contact form. WordPress security plugin will allow you to take certain action to secure your website. And, a cache plugin enables certain cache into your website to load faster.

Some plugins provide you with an easy to use shortcodes, which you can simply copy into your content to show a certain feature to your users.



Congratulations! Chapter Finished. Learn more about the similar topics:
Exercises & Assignments
No Content Found.
Interview Questions & Answers
No Content Found.