Concept in Definition ABC

A plug-in is a piece of software that allows us to expand the functionalities of a program, generally a browser web, although they are also used in other environments, such as music publishing programs.

In order to use a plug-in, the program to which we add this small piece of software must be prepared

Through what is known as an API, which stands for Application Program Interface, i that it is nothing more than a series of calls to the program that produce actions.

In fact, the name plug-in represents in English the action of connecting, of plugging in, with which we can understand the piece of software like removable, that we connect it when we need it, but we can do without it when it is not useful and is more of a nuisance than a benefit.

The latter would be the case of a consumption excessive of resources or the discovery of a failure of safety for which there is still no solution.

Because, in terms of security, it is known that plug-ins represent a weak edge

Either because of the weakness of its source code, or because of the fact that social engineering can be used to "sneak" the Internet user a fake plug-in, or because the availability of an API makes the base program more weak.

For this reason, most of the programs that allow the use of plug-ins and the products of Informatic securityThey have tools that allow to secure this flank.

The programs that we most associate with plug-ins are web browsers

Since they are the ones we use the most, however, their history starts with the beginnings of microinformatics and computing desktop, in 1970, and have been used in some types of programs that are hard to believe today, as in the case of word processors.

However, his maxim expression we find it, in addition to the browsers, in audio editing programs and also in reproduction. In these, the plug-ins provide support for new functionalities and new audiovisual formats, as well as effects sound to provide our compositions, show animations during playback, or options for equalizer.

CMS, online content management systems, are also another area in which plug-ins are in good health.

To a basic tool like WordPress, which allows to store and display articles that have photos and other elements, we can extend the functions with several plug-ins.

Some of these allow us, for example, to create newsletters by email, moderate comments, or create a list of referenced articles complementary to the one we are reading.

Photos: Fotolia - BillionPhotos / julien tromeur