PLUG-IN
Small piece of software, usually from a third party developer, that adds new features to another (larger) software application.
Has a meaning that can vary with context. The most common meaning in WWW browsers is reader (runtime, playback, view) software that will "plug" into the browser such that when a file extension (e.g., PDF, TBK, WAV, AVI, MOV, etc.) is encountered the browser will view or download the file automatically and run that file. Most plug-in readers are free. Examples include the PDF Acrobat reader from <http://www.adobe.com/>, the shockwave reader from <
http://www.macromedia.com/>, the neuron reader from <http://www.asymetrix.com/>, and movie readers from <http://www.texas.net>. VRML readers are usually browser plug-ins. A summary of browser plug-ins is contained in "Get Plugged In: Navigator Plug-Ins That Liven Up the Web," PC Magazine, May 28, 1996, pp. 44-60. (See also
MIME,
Internet,
Browser, and
World Wide Web)
A (usually small) piece of software that adds features to a larger piece of software. Common examples are plug-ins for the Netscape®
browser and web
server. Adobe Photoshop® also uses plug-ins.
The idea behind plug-in’s is that a small piece of software is loaded into memory by the larger program, adding a new feature, and that users need only install the few plug-ins that they need, out of a much larger pool of possibilities. Plug-ins are usually created by people other than the publishers of the software the plug-in works with.
A piece of software that plugs into a main program to give it added capability,for example,you can add a Quick Time plug-in to your browser to play QuickTime movies on the web,or Macromediaâs Schockwave,providing animation,etc.
