subject: Software Plugins [print this page] Plug ins are groups of components that are created to add a specific feature or service to a larger software application, they are commonly used in web browsers to scan for viruses, display new file types and play video, The name was created because the application plugs into browsers.
Plugins are usually supported by applications for purposes such as; making it easier to add new features, to reduce the size of large applications and to separate source code from an application usually due to software licenses that are incompatible.
Applications use plugins for a host of different reason, media players used them to support file formats and lets you stream audio, video, animation and multimedia presentations, Microsoft office adds specialized features and custom commands by using plugins to extend the extend the capabilities of its applications.
Software development environment's which is a software application that presents wide-ranging facilities to computer programmers for software development, use plugins to support programming languages. Web browser employs this application to play videos through the use of programs such as QuickTime, Microsoft silver light and flash
Packet sniffers are computer hardware's that can interrupt traffic that passes over a digital network, packet sniffers use plug ns to decode packet formats. Email clients also use this application to encrypt and decrypt email. Graphic software's like adobe Photoshop use this it to process images and support file formats. Another program that uses plugin is a remote sensing application' that utilizes it to process data from different sensor types.
