If you are or intend to be a new user of the greatest content management system, WordPress. Then you would probably like to know exactly what a WordPress plugin is.

And even if you are already a user of the tool, it is still normal to have questions about what it is, how it works, what it is for, among other questions.

So, from now on, know that plugins are essential to improve the features and functions of your website created in WordPress. And now in this short article that we have prepared, you will learn once and for all what it is, how it works, what it does, where to find one and much more.

What is it and how does it work?

A WordPress plugin is nothing more than a code inserted in your WordPress site, simplifying it is like an extension that when added to the site improves and provides an increase of functions.

Know that using them is practically the most recommended way to increase your website's potential, without having to change your original codes. Completely dispenses with any and all programming knowledge.

Just install and activate, then perform some simple configurations if necessary and that's it. There are a huge amount of them that are fully accessible in the free WordPress plugin repository.

Know that the correct use of these tools, in addition to improving the resources and functionality of the site, will also improve the user experience (visitor).

What he does?

They, in turn, manage to leave any type of website or blog with much more resources and also with much more functionality. With just a few clicks you will be able to create online portfolios, websites of various types, convertible landing pages, blogs, create E-commerce websites and much more.

If you are a photographer or an artist who creates handicrafts, for example, it is essential to have a portfolio and make your creations very presentable on the web. Then using a simple WordPress plugin this task will be much simpler.

And if you intend to create your sales website, then you can use WooCommerce, which will make your sales website amazing with all the features you need.

Know that some of them have the ability to completely transform your website, while others change just a few things, such as:

Seo By Yoast has the function of improving and helping your website's Seo, while Contact Form 7 helps you create contact forms, thus allowing your visitors to get in touch with you easily.

How and where to find plugins?

There are many places where you can find them, but it's always good to be aware and take care with the source, as some created by some web developers who are not very reliable can even harm your website in some way. .

So the best place for you to find them is definitely the official WordPres plugin directorys which currently has almost 58,000 of them for you to use in your online projects for free. And of course there are those that are paid that offer features that are sometimes not found in the official free repository.

How to install:

There are 3 simple ways for you to install WordPress plugins on your sites, which are:

1. The simplest way is to install it directly through the WordPress admin panel, just go to plugins > search > install and activate;
2. The other way is to upload a zipped file of the desired plugin, for that just go to plugins > add new > send plugins > activate;
3. And the other way is by uploading it via FTP.

Forms 1 and 2 are certainly the simplest and most recommended, just a few clicks and it will be installed, active and working.

Considerations before installing a plugin:

Before you install any WordPress plugin on your site, it is always good to take some important points into consideration, such as:

• First of all, you have to know what your website's purpose is, so you know what to install, and not just install a useless tool that will be useless.
• Secondly, always try to search the internet for recommendations, you will definitely find what you are looking for and that the tool performs the function that your online project needs.

Our tip is for you to check its compatibility with your WordPress version before installing. And always try to opt for plugins that have constant updates, this will avoid future headaches.

I can not install it:

This usually happens to beginners, who are just starting to use WordPress CMS (Content Management System) recently. Many of them don't know that WordPress has 2 versions. Which are wordPress.org and wordPress.com.

When using wordPress.org you will have complete freedom to install any and all types of plugins that your site needs, while wordPress.com doesn't give you that freedom and even limits you on that point.

That's why our recommendation is that you always choose to use wordPress.org, just register a domain and hire a hosting plan and wordPress.org will be available for free. And you're free to add whatever features you need.

Free or paid?

There are many different types of free and also paid plugins which are also known as premium. You can have a website, blog or online store using only the free ones. Believe me, there are many like that on the web.

But there are some features and functionality that you may need and you can't find a free solution, in which case a paid plugin can definitely solve your problem.

But before choosing a premium one, be aware of the features it offers, and that it differs from the free version by meeting your needs. Another tip is to check before buying if you will have support if you need it, and if it comes with a digital manual explaining its use.

Too many installed plugins harm my website?

In practice, the number of plugins installed on your site will not affect your performance, but if you are using a poor quality plugin, this can happen.

Don't forget that everything installed on your website will take up space on your disk in your database, so be aware that if you choose to install too many of them then your storage space will be reduced.

And we cannot fail to mention that some may conflict with others, thus impairing the functioning of the site. That's why our tip is, use only those that are really necessary. Keep your site organized.

Conclusion:

In short, now you know what a WordPress plugin is, how they work, what they are for and where to find them. We can say that it is because of them that WordPress is so popular and extremely efficient.

They have the power to inject codes into your website without the need for programming, increasing the resources and functionality of any website created in WordPress, from protection, assistance in positioning the website in Google searches, image optimization and much more.

So that's it, we're done here, we hope we helped, and just remember our tips and you won't have any problems. See you later and success?