With our basic site structure put into place, we can now use plugins to greatly increase the versatility of WordPress. Plugins are bits of code, typically written by third-party developers that add extra functionality to WordPress. These plugins typically add a specific ability to a site, such as a contact form or an event calendar.
In this chapter, we will explore how to find and install WordPress plugins. I will also provide you with a list of plugins that are applicable in an education setting.
Much like themes, plugins can be found and installed from within the WordPress administration interface. Hover over the Plugins tab in the left sidebar and choose the Add New tab. We are then presented with the Install Plugins page.
From the Install Plugins page, we are able to Search for plugins or Upload our own as well as browse the Featured, Popular, Newest, and Recently Updated plugins. Browsing the Featured and Popular categories is a great way to get a feel for the kinds of functionality made possible by plugins.
Once we find a plugin that interests us, we may click the Details link to learn more about it. To install the plugin, click on the Install Now link. In the following example, I have chosen to install the WordPress Jetpack plugin. This plugin adds a variety of additional functionality such as spellcheck, site statistics, e-mail subscriptions, and more.
WordPress will then download and unzip the plugin file to our server. Once it is complete, we will be given the option to either Activate the Plugin or Return to Plugin Installer. Activating will essentially turn the plugin on, while choosing to return to the plugin installer will leave the plugin installed but inactive.
Tip
If you encounter problems while installing or managing plugins, consult the WordPress Codex (http://codex.wordpress.org/Managing_Plugins).
