In computing, a plugin is a set of software components that adds specific abilities to a larger software application. It enables customizing the functionality of an application. Plugins can have many different functions.

Plugins can extend WordPress to do almost anything you can imagine. When I run up against a new and different task I want to accomplish in WordPress, Rog will hear me say: “There MUST be plugin for that!” And, there always is.

Some examples of how plugins can enhance your adventure with WordPress are:

• Allowing you to place categories in the order that you want
• Creating photo albums
• Inserting images in a widget without having to know HTML code
• Enhancing search engine optimization
• Capturing site metrics
• Protecting your site from spam
• Using a security firewall that monitors web requests to identify and stop the most obvious attacks.

And, so many more. There are literally thousands of plugins – last count was 20,053 as per the wordpress.org site today.

You can install a plugin in WordPress directly from the backend. Under “Plugins” you can search for and then upload the plugin. You’ll need to activate it once it is successfully installed.

Visit http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/ for a directory of WordPress plugins. So next time you’re thinking that you can’t accomplish what you want on your WordPress site, think again, and remember my own response to the challenge: “There MUST be a plugin for that!”