PLUGINS
Plugins – are small applications that run within WordPress to make things happen on your website. WordPress.org now offers 32,318.
- They can be loaded right from your dashboard.
- They are searchable right from your dashboard (by function ie contact form)
- Rated by stars, and you can click “Details” to read more about them including the number of people that have uploaded them.
- Plugins is its own category on the main dashboard.
- Behind the scenes plugins help with
- ------search engine optimization
- ------backups
- ------things to make it all work better
- On website plugins create
- ------slideshows of images
- ------contact forms for visitors
- ------things to make site better for visitor
WIDGETS
Widgets are plugins that do something the public can see or interact with; image, embedded video, comments. Widgets also are made of built-in application code. WordPress has a number of them already loaded with each theme. To see these widgets go to Appearance on the dashboard and then go to Widgets. Usually these widgets are preloaded into the "footer" or "sidebar" area of your WordPress. In order to get rid of them go to Appearance, Widgets and drag them out of the area where they are over left. I think widgets were created so that WP developers could give new WP users basic capabilities that all bloggers wanted (back in the day) like a post listing in footer, or embed a video.
Often a plugin will create a widget to use in a post or page. Example Metaslider the plugin (downloadable) creates a metaslider widget that can be added to a page.
MOST USEFUL PLUGINS [MY FAVORITES CURRENTLY]
Black Studio TinyMCE Widget
NO WORRIES
Don't worry about getting every plugin and widget you are ever going to use the first time you sit down to work on your WordPress website! You will realize you want one when you want to do something on a new page that you've never done before. Check first on the WordPress.org plugins page to find the perfect tool for the fun new task you want to do. Or maybe you will go to a WordPress meetup and someone will recommend this great new plugin that brings you infinite traffic to your website. If you don't like it you can always deactivate and delete. I suggest that you look for ones that have high ratings and have been downloaded often. That way they likely work. Also I always watch for ones that are compatible with the most recent WordPress (which is 3.9.1).