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What is a Plug-In?

A "plug-in" is software that is added on or "plugged-in" to a web browser to extend its capabilities to handle sound, video, and other types of files found on the web. More recent versions of browsers include many of the most common plug-ins used by web sites, but new plug-ins and improvements to existing plug-ins are always being developed.

Check out Netscape's list of Navigator plug-ins for the most current information on what plug-ins are available and how to obtain them. Nova's technical support page also has information on some of the most popular plug-ins.

Some sites require plugs-ins to display properly:

Explore the Maya ruins at Palenque or view clips from the latest movies using the Quicktime VR plug-in. More information on Quicktime, including instructions for downloading Mac or PC versions and a list of other sites that use it, is available at Apple's Quicktime web site.

Hear the latest news from National Public Radio or listen to music using the Real Player plug-in, which enables you to listen to news and music and view video over the web. The Real Networks site also has a guide to interesting sites that use RealPlayer technology.

Adobe Acrobat Reader enables you to view documents such as Federal tax forms, company reports, college applications, teacher guides, and maps that are available on the web in Portable Document Format (PDF).

Shockwave enables web sites to use animation and "interactive multimedia" tools like those used on CD-ROMs. Nova's Mount Everest site uses this plug-in for animation, and an on-line test. Kids can color pictures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the other Peanuts characters at the United Media web site. The Shockzone provides a list of other interesting and unusual sites that use Shockwave.

Select "General Preferences", then "Helpers" under the Options Menu to review or configure plug-ins:

To configure a plug-in, click the appropriate row of the table, then click on edit:

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©1998-2002 Lisa Baci. All rights reserved.
Please send comments to Lisa Baci at lbaci@mac.com

This site was created for a Lexington Community Education course and does not provide authorized support for any of the software products discussed. Throughout this site trademarked names and icons are used. Rather than put a trademark symbol in every occurance of a trademark, the site uses these names and icons only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner with no intention of infringement of the trademark.

Exploration Search		What is a Plug-In? A "plug-in" is software that is added on or "plugged-in" to a web browser to extend its capabilities to handle sound, video, and other types of files found on the web. More recent versions of browsers include many of the most common plug-ins used by web sites, but new plug-ins and improvements to existing plug-ins are always being developed. Check out Netscape's list of Navigator plug-ins for the most current information on what plug-ins are available and how to obtain them. Nova's technical support page also has information on some of the most popular plug-ins.
		Some sites require plugs-ins to display properly:
		Explore the Maya ruins at Palenque or view clips from the latest movies using the Quicktime VR plug-in. More information on Quicktime, including instructions for downloading Mac or PC versions and a list of other sites that use it, is available at Apple's Quicktime web site. Hear the latest news from National Public Radio or listen to music using the Real Player plug-in, which enables you to listen to news and music and view video over the web. The Real Networks site also has a guide to interesting sites that use RealPlayer technology. Adobe Acrobat Reader enables you to view documents such as Federal tax forms, company reports, college applications, teacher guides, and maps that are available on the web in Portable Document Format (PDF). Shockwave enables web sites to use animation and "interactive multimedia" tools like those used on CD-ROMs. Nova's Mount Everest site uses this plug-in for animation, and an on-line test. Kids can color pictures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the other Peanuts characters at the United Media web site. The Shockzone provides a list of other interesting and unusual sites that use Shockwave.
		Select "General Preferences", then "Helpers" under the Options Menu to review or configure plug-ins:

		To configure a plug-in, click the appropriate row of the table, then click on edit:

		Internet Surfing Home Page Exploration, URLs, Search, Bookmarks, ISPs, Email, Newsgroups, Safe Surfing, Plug-ins, Downloading Files

		©1998-2002 Lisa Baci. All rights reserved. Please send comments to Lisa Baci at lbaci@mac.com

		This site was created for a Lexington Community Education course and does not provide authorized support for any of the software products discussed. Throughout this site trademarked names and icons are used. Rather than put a trademark symbol in every occurance of a trademark, the site uses these names and icons only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner with no intention of infringement of the trademark.