WordPress in the Future
WordPress in the Future

What Are WordPress Plugins?

WordPress is a top-rated and robust website-building tool that holds a market share of 60.8% in the CMS market and powers around 14.7% of the world’s most visited websites.

With the widespread use of WordPress as a website builder or CMS, developers have produced a multitude of WordPress addons and plugins for it. Therefore, regardless of the feature or improvement you intend to add to your website, you will likely find a suitable plugin.

In website development with WordPress, plugins are a significant component. They make it simple for users to enhance their website’s capabilities without requiring coding knowledge.

Within the WordPress community, the phrase ‘There’s a plugin for that’ is frequently used.

What is a WordPress Plugin?

A plugin for WordPress is a software component that integrates with your WordPress site, adding new features or enhancing existing ones. This enables the creation of a wide range of websites, from online stores to portfolios to directories.

The WordPress.org plugin directory contains over 60,000 free plugins; third-party developers like us also create numerous premium plugins.

WordPress is intended to be extendable by other developers. The WordPress plugin API allows developers to easily alter and include new functionality to WordPress using a variety of hooks and filters.

How to Add a New Plugin in WordPress?

The plugin search is the most straightforward method for installing a WordPress plugin. However, the limitation of this option is that the plugin must be available in the WordPress plugin directory, which only includes free plugins.

  1. Go to the Plugins » Add New ” page in your WordPress admin area to get started. This will take you to a screen similar to the screenshot above.
  1. Use the search bar for a plugin by its name or desired functionality. Several options will appear, and you can select the best one by clicking the ‘Install Now’ button beside it.
  1. WordPress will download the plugin for you, and the ‘Install Now’ button will change to an ‘Activate’ button.
  1. Remember that even if you install a WordPress plugin, it will only work once you activate it. So, click the ‘Activate’ button to start using the plugin on your WordPress website.

How to Update a Plugin in WordPress?

Outdated plugin versions can create security vulnerabilities and may need to be fixed with newer versions of WordPress, themes, or other plugins. Hence, updating your WordPress plugins to ensure their proper functionality is crucial.

WordPress’s built-in update system automatically checks for updates and notifies you when new updates are available for your plugins, themes, and WordPress core software.

It is recommended to update one plugin at a time and wait for it to finish updating before clicking on the next update link. Updating plugins is a straightforward process, and it includes the following steps:

  1. Check for a new update available for your plugins in your notifications on the Plugins menu in the WordPress admin bar. Alternatively, you can manually check for updates by going to the Dashboard » Updates page.
  1. To install these updates, go to the Plugins » Installed Plugins page.
  1. Below each plugin with available updates, there will be a notification that says ‘Update Now.’
  1. To install each update, click on the Update Now link.

Bulk Update Plugins in WordPress

Updating multiple WordPress plugins at once can save you time. To do this, go to the Plugins » Installed Plugins page and click the ‘Update Available’ link. This will display a list of all plugins that have available updates.

To update all plugins at once, select them by clicking the ‘Plugin’ checkbox at the top of the list and then choosing Update’ from the Bulk Actions drop-down menu.

Here’s how you can disable a single WordPress plugin from your dashboard:

How to Disable a Plugin in WordPress?

The vast selection of plugins available for WordPress can be a curse and a blessing. Unfortunately, plugin-related issues are among the most commonly reported problems in WordPress. While they can provide solutions for almost any need, they also introduce variability in versions and security.

Some common issues caused by plugins include slow site speed, blank pages, error messages, and other miscellaneous problems. To address these issues, you may need to disable a plugin temporarily. To temporarily disable or deactivate a WordPress plugin, follow the listed steps:

  1. First, go to the Plugins » Installed Plugins page in your WordPress admin area.
  1. Find the plugin you wish to deactivate and hover over its row. You’ll see a link to deactivate that specific plugin.
  1. Clicking on the link will instantly deactivate the WordPress plugin. Even though the plugin remains installed on your website, WordPress will no longer load it.
  1. To reactivate the plugin, click on the ‘Activate’ link located below it.

It’s important to note that disabling a plugin is not the same as deleting it; disabling removes its functionality, but you can reactivate it anytime.

Bulk Disable Plugins in WordPress

You might sometimes encounter issues on your WordPress website that require you to deactivate all plugins. Instead of disabling them one by one, WordPress provides a straightforward method to deactivate multiple or all plugins quickly.

  1. To do this, navigate to the Plugins » Installed Plugins page and select the checkboxes next to the plugins you want to deactivate.
  1. If you want to disable all WordPress plugins, select the checkbox at the top to choose them all.
  1. Then, choose ‘Deactivate’ from the ‘Bulk Actions’ drop-down menu.
  1. Now, click the ‘Apply’ button. WordPress will proceed to deactivate all the selected plugins.

WordPress plugins are useful tools that tailor your website to your requirements. They can help you add various features and shortcuts to your WordPress site to customize it as possible.

However, if you install plugins that don’t serve any practical purpose for your site, they may harm your site’s performance and cause it to load slower.

How Do WordPress Plugins Affect Your Site Load Time?

WordPress plugins have various functions and features that serve their intended purposes. For example, some plugins generate database queries in the backend, while others load front-end assets like CSS stylesheets, JavaScript files, and images.

These activities contribute to your website’s loading speed and overall performance. However, since most plugins require HTTP requests to load CSS, scripts, and images, each request increases the web page load time.

In cases where there are only a few requests, the performance effect may be insignificant. However, using multiple plugins can generate too many HTTP requests to load assets and files, slows down your site’s loading time, and affects the user experience.

Tips to Limit WordPress Plugins & Control Over The Number

  • It is recommended to select those that have good reviews, are well-coded, and are recommended by experts to use plugins effectively on your WordPress site.
  • Limiting the number of plugins installed on your site is also advisable, as this can significantly slow down the loading time. You can achieve this by removing unnecessary plugins.
  • Additionally, if a plugin negatively impacts your site’s speed, consider replacing it with another plugin with similar features but better quality coding.
  • It is essential to review plugins carefully before installing them on your website. Quality-coded plugins are generally faster and optimized for speed to provide better and faster performance.

Where to Find a WordPress Plugin?

There are several places to find WordPress plugins, depending on whether you want free or premium plugins. Free plugins can be installed and used without paying, although some features may require payment. Premium plugins require payment but often offer better features.

  • The official WordPress plugin directory, WordPress.org, is one of the excellent places to find free plugins.
  • CodeCanyon is a directory of exclusively premium WordPress plugins.
  • Many third-party developers only sell plugins through their sites, so searching Google is an excellent way to find plugins.

What To Consider Before Installing WordPress Plugins?

Adding a third-party code to your WordPress site can have associated risks, so you must be careful about which plugins you install.

The wrong plugin can cause various issues, such as errors on your site, security vulnerabilities, slow down your site or intentionally introduce malicious code. To avoid such problems, you can follow these tips:

  • Use plugins from reputable developers or directories like WordPress.org or CodeCanyon.
  • Check reviews and the popularity of the plugin before installing it.
  • Ensure that the plugin has been updated recently, as this shows that it is still being maintained and is less likely to have issues.

Types of WordPress Plugins

WordPress plugins can be compared to applications for your WordPress website. Installing them lets you enhance your website’s capabilities with various features, such as contact forms, SEO tools, and membership options. Enlisted below are the top must-have types of WordPress plugins.

Cache Plugins

Cache plugins are WordPress add-ons that help to speed up website loading times. WordPress is a dynamic content management system; each time a user visits a website, data must be fetched from a database, and numerous functions must be performed before the website appears on their browser.

Caching allows WordPress to bypass many of these processes by creating a duplicate of the webpage after the initial visit, which is then used for all subsequent visits.

Caching is a widely used technique that enhances website speed and performance. Essentially, cache refers to temporarily stored data that can be accessed when requested. This is why so many WordPress plugins are devoted to caching.

SEO Plugins

SEO plugins are tools that aid in making websites more visible and improving their search engine ranking. SEO, which is the process of optimizing websites for search engines like Google, can be considered a separate industry. The better your SEO, the more easily your site can be found.

You can take simple steps to boost your site’s ranking compared to other sites. These steps can be automated using SEO plugins, which handle the small and repetitive parts of the work. Moreover, good SEO plugins offer advice on how to improve your site’s SEO.

Forms plugins

Forms plugins are tools that help visitors to websites submit personal information. Forms are the method by which information is collected from visitors, and they need to be secure, customizable, and capable of preventing spam. The best WP plugins or form plugins are simple to set up and customize, allowing you to tailor the form to the specific needs of your customers.

Redirect plugins

Redirect plugins automatically adjust a website’s links and media files to ‘https’ instead of ‘HTTP.’ This is essential for website security, as SSL certificates are required to secure websites, and browsers like Chrome will warn visitors against accessing sites that don’t use ‘https.’

Attempting to make this change manually can be difficult and time-consuming, which is why redirect plugins are helpful. They automatically redirect visitors to the site’s secure ‘https’ version and adjust all links and media files accordingly.

Security Plugins

Security plugins are tools that help protect WordPress sites from malicious attacks by hackers. WordPress is a popular target for hackers due to its widespread usage.

These plugins offer various solutions, such as limiting login attempts to prevent brute force attacks or providing comprehensive security solutions like WordFence.

The choice of the best security plugin depends on your specific needs, and finding a balance between convenience and security is essential.

Sitemap Plugins

Sitemaps are tools that assist search engines in understanding the structure of your website. As a result, they can help with SEO by making it easier for visitors to navigate your site.

Many applications can create a sitemap for your site, and WordPress is currently working on incorporating XML sitemaps into its core features. However, until this feature is directly available in the WordPress Dashboard, many plugins can provide a good XML sitemap.

Backup Plugins

WordPress backup plugins are tools that provide peace of mind by creating backups of WordPress sites. It is recommended to use a backup plugin for any WordPress site you care about, even if you have other forms of backup, such as cPanel backups or Backup Manager.

If you need to recover just one site, restoring a full account backup can be a hassle. Luckily, WordPress backups are smaller and can be restored quickly. Many backup plugins also allow you to store backups offsite, providing additional protection if something happens to your files.

Analytics Plugins

Analytics plugins are an essential type of WordPress plugin. Web admins need to understand the traffic their website receives, as this information is crucial for making marketing decisions. In addition, accurate visitor data is necessary to inform internet marketing tactics and strategies.

It’s essential to use a reliable source to obtain trustworthy visitor data. Adding a Google Analytics plugin or Jetpack to your website can provide accurate information about your users without breaking the bank.

Landing Page Plugins

WordPress landing page plugins are essential for improving your website’s conversion rate. In addition, effective landing pages are necessary to generate more sales leads through content marketing, email marketing, and social media optimization.

A landing page is designed to persuade users to act, such as signing up for a newsletter or purchasing on your website.

Although you can create a landing page like any other page on WordPress, there are many plugins available that can help you in creating an effective landing page without requiring significant time and effort. OptimizePress 2.0, Landing Pages, and Zedity are among the most popular WordPress landing page plugins.

Conclusion

WordPress Hosting is the best hosting option for websites built using WordPress. This is because it is optimized to work seamlessly with WordPress, providing excellent performance and various management features specific to WordPress. Conversely, shared hosting is a more generic option that you can use for any website.

When you opt for WordPress Hosting, you can expect to receive a range of features and benefits. For instance, a WordPress Hosting package from Freeparking includes automatic plugin updates, website caching, content delivery network (CDN), DDoS attack protection, and a free SSL certificate that ensures secure connections between your website visitors and the server.

Thus, for those seeking a user-friendly, feature-packed website solution, WordPress Hosting is a great choice. With pre-installed software, enhanced security features, and support for specific plugins and themes, WordPress hosts also make it easy to install popular applications with just one click.

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