Breaking down plugins - what are they?

Simply speaking, plugins are small scripts (files with executable PHP code) that allow you to include new functionality in your WordPress site--functionality that is not available or enabled by default. One of the best advantages of WordPress is that it's quite an optimized platform. It makes your site load fast and doesn't contain much redundant code. However, WordPress itself only offers the absolute essential range of features--the features useful to everyone. At the same time, the platform provides a straightforward way of expanding the abilities of your site by introducing, you guessed it, plugins. The idea is simple--if you want your site to be able to handle a specific new task, there's surely a plugin for that. Much like in the Apple world and the popular expression, "there's an app for that."

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