Plugins are small programs that are easily added to Wordpress to expand it’s functionality.  By design WordPress is delivered in a “bare bones” state.  Rather than have WordPress come with all the possibilities available, many of which a person would not use, the software lets you add what you need resulting in a much leaner and faster website or blog.

WordPress has over 41,000 free plugins to choose from.  The popularity of WordPress gives the user a larger number of options when it comes to adding the custom functionality you are looking for.

From WordPress.org:

“Plugins are ways to extend and add to the functionality that already exists in WordPress.”

“The core of WordPress is designed to be lean and lightweight, to maximize flexibility and minimize code bloat. Plugins then offer custom functions and features so that each user can tailor their site to their specific needs.”

If you want to know more about how plugins work and where to get them try WordPress.org.

~ Layer7web