Plugin: what is it and what is it for. Taking into account individual needs

IN Lately There is a rapid growth in the number of all kinds of programs. This is not surprising, since the computer industry is developing at an unprecedented pace.

The main requirement for many professional programs is their functionality, which would allow performing maximum amount work tasks. And most applications fully satisfy this requirement, but sometimes specialists need such capabilities that only a certain plugin can help. "What it is?" - you ask.

Roughly speaking, it can be called. In more scientific terms, it should be characterized as a module that connects to the main application. As you might have guessed, its purpose is to expand or supplement the functionality of the parent program.

To explain on practical example, we invite you to remember about CMS WordPress, which has become incredibly popular among website and blog creators. Finding a plugin for “Press” (you already know what it is) will not be difficult even for a beginner, since a huge number of them have been released.

There are plenty of purposes for this type of add-on. Some of them can add integration with social networks and services, some simply make the site more beautiful, and others can be used to improve and simplify work with the resource.

But it’s not just the CMS that may need a good plugin (we’ve already told you what it is). For example, it is difficult to imagine popular browser Mozilla Firefox, not equipped with a dozen or two similar add-ons that make the user’s life much easier and more interesting.

For example, music plugins allow you to directly download music tracks from popular social networks, search for the tracks you need or information about the artists.

Other applications may reliably have malicious scripts or warn in advance about the site's unreliable reputation. If we turn again to musical topics, we should not forget about extensions for music players, which eliminate noise from sound or serve as a replacement for the standard equalizer.

But among professional artists and designers, plugins for Photoshop are held in special esteem. It's no secret that this program already has awe-inspiring functionality, but with such useful help it can be expanded almost indefinitely.

So, you can easily add new brushes, effects and filters that are so dear to the heart of a true creator! It should be noted that many plugins are not developed by official developers, but by communities of fans around the world.

So if you cannot figure out the development from foreign comrades, look for one on domestic resources. It is quite possible that a Russian-language analogue has existed for a long time.

Among other things, plugins have long been created for a variety of exchange systems instant messages. You can remember one such add-on for the legendary QIP messenger, which showed the name of the current song from the Winamp player in the status bar!

It's good when there is a good and functional plugin for your favorite application! What it is and why it is needed, you already know very well!

What is a plugin?

A plugin (module) is a software block that is built into Yandex Browser and expands its capabilities. Unlike add-ons, a plugin usually does not have an interface. Plugins are used to play video and audio in the browser, view PDF documents, improve the performance of web services that organize working together on the Internet, etc.

Installing the plugin

Typically, the need to install plugins arises when you visit a site that has specific content (for example, videos). To display this content correctly, you need to install one or another plugin.

Yandex.Browser will inform you that you need to install a suitable plugin and prompt you to do so: you will see a notification at the top of the page. You will need to download latest version plugin from the developer's website and install it.

How to disable the plugin?

1. Enter the address browser://plugins in the Smart line
2. The Plugins page will open, showing all installed plugins. To disable the plugin, disable the option Always run under his name.

Disable plugin autorun

By default, in Yandex Browser, Flash videos are launched automatically when the page is opened. To save RAM and enhance browser security, you can disable automatic start:

Update outdated plugins

Plugins are not automatically updated and may become outdated. Yandex Browser detects outdated plugins: if the plugin is outdated, you will see a message about this under the address bar:

• To install the latest version of the plugin, select Update plugin.
• If you want to perform necessary action without updating the plugin, click Run just this time. In this case, a message about blocking the plugin will also appear the next time you launch Yandex Browser.

Hello, friends! So I keep writing about how to install this or that plugin on your WordPress, but what is a plugin? I propose today to talk about a plug-in on a computer.

Modern computers are no longer just an electronic computer. This is a complex technique that performs thousands of tasks and has many applications.

Not having special education Sometimes you might think that a personal computer, this harmless home appliance, has a mind of its own. And the rise of the machines from the movie Terminator is not such a fantasy.

Remember, didn’t you argue with the computer when it slowed down or started performing tasks you didn’t understand? I think this happened to everyone. Today I propose to add a little understanding of how a computer works by focusing on the topic of plugins. The word is foreign and what a plug-in is on a computer is not immediately clear.

general information

So, plugin, from the English plug in - “connect”. Is not full-fledged program, but only an addition to it. It adds, activates, or subtracts functions from the main program.

Most often plugins are released for computer games and web browsers. The difference from regular add-ons is that they can be turned on and off at will.
Their usefulness is a controversial point for users. Some people get so used to the previous mode of operation of the program that they do not want to change anything.

Why are add-ons released?

Anyone who has encountered updating programs or searching required plugins, the question arises: why not immediately release a full-fledged program?

In this case, it will be too large and take up computer resources with functions that the user may not need.

The presence of various add-ons allows you to use only those functions that are necessary, avoiding unnecessary information junk, and not only the official developers themselves, but also other programmers who do not want to wait, can improve programs.

The end user has the choice to use an official add-on or a private one. Programmers especially often experiment with games, create new level maps, and increase the variety of weapons and armor.

To understand what a plugin is, look in your web browser's settings. For example, in the Yandex browser in the settings there is an “add-ons” item, there you will find more than 600 different add-ons that have different effects on the operation of the program and the process of your browsing on the Internet.

I took this screenshot on my browser Mozilla

It is worth choosing carefully what to use and what not. Once, I spent several days cleaning my computer, searching for viruses, and even asked a friend to take it apart and see if anything was damaged.

The actions did not bring results, the computer slowed down terribly, and the cause turned out to be a “left” plugin in Mozilla Firefox; as soon as it was removed, everything returned to normal. I'm sure many of you have a similar story.

Installing the plugin

Anyone who has played modern RPG games has encountered this question. The forums present hundreds of add-ons for games and how to install them.

Basically you need to move the file to specific folder in a programme. Some have an individual installation option and with them there is text file“Read me” - read me.

As a rule, everything is briefly described in it, how to install, where to place the files and which file to run.

Today, most programs have an automatic installation form. Where is the list of possible additions, under each of them short description and an on/off button or a checkmark, clicking on which turns on the plugin. After the restart, the new functionality is enabled and you can try out the new products.

I will give an example of how to add a plugin.

Possible problems

Of the possible disadvantages, one has already been described above - under the guise of a plugin it may appear malware, which, instead of improving, slows down the entire computer.

An error may also occur if there are too many add-ons enabled. This happens when they are released without taking into account existing ones, and they begin to conflict with each other.

Some of them are installed automatically, without our knowledge. I recommend periodically checking the list of activated add-ons in your browser to avoid problems and save your nerves and time.

There is also such a thing as plugin crash. This is a critical error, as a result of which the program does not respond to our requests or cannot launch part of the functionality. The solution is to remove and reinstallation additions.

Solving the common error “An unknown plugin is slowing down your computer”

This error can appear in almost all browsers. Before the message appears, you may notice this error yourself: the browser takes a very long time to load pages, the mouse on the screen slows down, and the music starts to jam when you turn on the browser.

To solve the problem, just go to the list of plugins, in different browsers they are hidden under the name “add-ons” or “extensions”.

We analyze the entire list and disable everything except the most necessary, especially pay attention to files with unclear names on English language with no job description.

If it doesn’t help, you need to update the program itself and all connected plugins, restart it. If this does not help, then delete the browser with all the settings and download the latest version and install it again.
These are simple and effective ways, which do not require special knowledge of computers.

Joke.
- Download the program and then install it.
- Where?
- Here is the link…
- And what should I do with her?
- Follow it!
- How?
- Open the window, paste the address, press enter.
Silence.
- Where are you?
- I'm here.
- Did you do everything?
- Opened it. Cold…

Almost every person who owns the Internet uses plugins.

Many users even know how to install or remove them, but few people fully understand what these modules are and why they are needed. Let's try to figure it out.

If we talk scientific language, plugin (from English. plug-in- “replaceable”) is a compiled module aimed at expanding the capabilities of a program. Simply, it is an addition, an add-on, thanks to which the program already installed on the computer becomes better for the user.

The peculiarity of the plugin is that it is not able to work independently, but only complements the existing main application. At the same time, the program itself, on the contrary, can connect plugins and also function freely without them.

After we have found out the meaning of the plugin, a completely logical question arises: “Why is it needed?” Isn’t it more convenient to initially provide the main application with all the necessary functionality, so as not to waste time on installation? additional programs?


Perhaps more convenient, but not entirely advisable, since the plugin is responsible for two significant functions:

1. Makes the basic application easier and faster. If you release a program with wide functionality, then it will take up a lot of space on your hard drive and also take up unnecessary PC resources, which will result in a decrease in the performance of other applications. Using plugins makes it possible to provide the program with only those functions that are necessary to a specific person, thanks to which the application will take up less space and run much faster.

2. Provides an opportunity to improve the program. In progress basic applications A modular scheme is used, according to which the plugin can be installed or removed without disrupting the operation of the program. In addition, any programmer is able to write the addition he needs without waiting for the developer of the main application to do it.

Today there are a huge number of plugins for the most different programs, however one of the most famous is Shockwave Flash. It is used to play multimedia videos and allows users to fully enjoy the beauty of vector 3D graphics, flash games and others. interactive elements online.


Shockwave Flash works with many Internet browsers (Mozilla, Opera, Internet Explorer) and makes it possible to correctly display interactive sites that were created using Shockwave technology.

Sometimes it happens that while playing a game or watching a video, the screen goes dark and a window appears with the message: “The plugin has crashed.” This happens in cases where the plugin suddenly stops working for one reason or another.

Most often, a crash occurs if your Internet browser does not update software. Sometimes the cause of failure is unstable work Adobe applications Flash Player or the presence in the web browser of such unusable applications as toolbars - they take up space, take up resources and cause a conflict that leads to plugins crashing.

Usually, to fix the problem, it is enough to simply reload the browser page, but if the plugin continues to crash, then it is more rational to update it existing version until the last one. Another option is to go to the browser toolkit and see how many plugins are installed and enabled on the computer.

You are unlikely to need many of them, so it is recommended to disable them all, leaving only Shockwave Flash, which is necessary for watching videos. When these methods do not help, you have to completely remove the browser and install it again.


If you notice that the plugin still crashes with high frequency, then it might be time to change your browser.

Without them, it is impossible to imagine a comfortable pastime near the computer. Thanks to them, you can not only watch movies and videos on the channel, but also improve the work own blog. We invite you to learn how to install and use useful plugins on personal computer, and also which plugin is better.

What is a plugin in a computer?

Not every Internet user knows what a plugin is and what plugins are needed for. Among them there are useful, not very necessary and even viral ones. Therefore, it is important to know where to find them and how to remove them if necessary. A plugin is an independently controlled software module that is capable of dynamically connecting to the main program, designed to expand or use its capabilities. Plugins are often used for convenience. Thanks to them, you can improve your blog:

• get rid of spammers;
• change the date and language to Russian;
• optimize articles.

Types of plugins

It is important not only to understand what a plugin is, but also to know what types there are. There are these types of plugins:

1. For browsers – plays animations and videos.
2. For image editors - effects for processing, new filters.
3. For programs for working with sounds - tools for applying effects to sound, sample libraries.
4. For games - they are often called mods or patches, which provide new features in the gameplay, new levels, new characters and do not work separately from the original game.
5. For websites – used for the convenient functioning of a website or blog. They help optimize articles, translate dates and languages ​​into Russian, and correct links.

How to download the plugin?

You can enjoy all the possibilities of the Internet by installing all the necessary plugins on your computer. We suggest you find out how to download the most popular and in-demand Flash plugin. To do this, it is important to follow these instructions:

1. Go to the Adobe Flash Player download page.
2. Upload file Flash installations. Here you need to pay attention to the checkbox for installing optional programs. If you do not clear the checkbox before downloading, the programs will be installed when you run the Flash installer.
3. Once the download is complete, you should close your browser.

Why can't the plugin load?

Sometimes beginners and more experienced users encounter problems loading plugins. It is especially unpleasant when the main software modules do not work, without which it is impossible to watch videos on the computer. So why won't the plugin load? Experts say there is no single cause for the problem. However, often the problem lies in the software version that is not updated.

Often during installation they uncheck this important point « Automatic update when connected to the network." In addition, the cause of the problem may be in the browser. So, one of the differences Opera browser V unstable work plugins. The problem may also be in the long-standing clearing of your browsing history. It is clear that the accumulated excess information in random access memory cannot improve the performance of the device. Perhaps the plugin itself was downloaded a long time ago and has never been updated during all this time.

How to install the plugin?

The next step after downloading is to install the Adobe Flash Player plugin. To do this, you must follow these instructions:

1. Uncheck "Yes, install" Google Chrome(optional)" and click on the "Download" button.
2. After redirecting to new page, you will see a special dialog box in which you need to click the “Launch” button. Depending on the browser and settings you use, the file may download automatically. IN in this case you need to wait for the download to finish and run the file yourself.

How to run the plugin?

Once the required plugin is downloaded and installed on your computer, it is important to know how to use the plugin in Opera. To do this you need to do the following:

1. Launch the browser.
2. In the address field enter opera://plugins.
3. On the page that opens, find Adobe Flash Player.
4. Click the “Enable” button.
5. If the list contains several external modules, you need to select “Show details” and enable the external module.

Why doesn't the plugin work?

There may not be many reasons why the plugin does not work. Often this situation can arise when the version of the browser you are using is not designed to work with the plugin. In addition, the reason may be that the code of a particular plugin contains errors, that is, there is a likely risk that the plugin will not be supported. This often happens because the user installs some add-ons on a computer that is running a new operating system.

Why doesn't the plugin launch?

Knowing what a plugin is is not enough, it is also important to know how to use it. Sometimes network users are faced with the fact that flash games and video clips do not start. The reason is the disabled Adobe Flash Player plugin, which needs to be activated. We suggest you find out how to enable the plugin. To do this, you need to do one of the following:

1. To restart a computer. Perhaps after a reboot the plugin will start working. In this case, the module should be run with administrator rights. To do this, right-click on the browser shortcut and select “Properties”, go to the “Compatibility” tab, check the box to run the program as administrator and click “OK”.
2. Update your browser to the latest version.
3. Check if the plugin is enabled. To do this, enter about:plugins in the browser line (or browser://plugins for Yandex.Browser, opera://plugins for Opera, chrome://plugins for Chrom) and press “enter”. Having found a plugin, you need to see whether it is enabled or not. If not enabled, you need to click on “enable”.
4. IN address bar type the same commands and see how many plugins are installed. If there are two, then one needs to be disabled.
5. Clear cache and cookies.
6. Scan your computer for viruses. Sometimes they can be the reason why the plugin does not start.

The plugin is not supported - what should I do?

If plugins are not opening, you need to find out what the problem is and fix it as soon as possible. To run the plugin, you need to do the following:

1. Use a different browser. Maybe, this version browser is not designed to work with a specific plugin.
2. Delete the existing plugin and upload a new one. The problem may be errors in the code software module.
3. Go to the official website and download the installation program package.

How to disable plugins?

To disable hidden plugins, in different , you need to do the following:

1. IN Google browser Chrome in the address bar enter chrome://plugins.
2. In the page that opens, find browser plugins.
3. Find the required plugin and select “Disable”.

How to remove a plugin?

Not all novice Internet users know how to remove Adobe plugin Flash Player. To do this you need:

1. Download the program Adobe removal Flash Player. You need to save the program where it can be easily found after restarting the computer.
2. Close all browsers and other programs that use Flash.
3. Run the uninstaller tool. To do this, double-click on the uninstall programs icon. You must follow the instructions to delete files and folders. Select “Start” - “Run”. Copy and paste - C:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash, then click “ok”. Then you need to delete all the files in the folder.
4. Make sure complete removal software module. You need to restart your computer, open your browser and check for the plugin.