What is a plugin or addon?

With the help of plugins, addons or addins, many programs can be expanded with unimagined functions. We explain exactly what plugins, addons, addins and mods are.

What is an addon?

An addon is an extension of a program. For example, it allows access to program functions, extends, supplements or uses them. Addons are subroutines that only work in conjunction with the main program. So they are optional modules, without which the main program works without restrictions. Examples of addons are:

• Extensions of computer games that provide new maps, missions or characters. Example: The hour zero is an add-on to the game Command & Conquer: Generals.
• Browser addons as listed on CHIP and downloadable. The Video DownloadHelper, for example, extends Firefox by a function for saving received video files.

Mods and addins

If a subroutine intervenes heavily in the structure of a software so that it can hardly be removed individually without affecting the functionality of the program, one speaks of an addin. An example of this are xla files that extend Microsoft Office applications - similar to macros, but outsourced to an external file. Extensions and changes to games are also known as mods.

What is a plugin?

A plugin is a stand-alone software that contains its own functions, can provide bills and operations. This can be used to implement completely new functions via an interface, with which a host application can be connected. Examples of plugins are:

• Software synthesizers and effects in sequencer programs that add new sounds and sound effects to the sequencer. The HALion sampler extends Cubase by a virtual sampler.
• Graphic effects and format extensions in image editing software. Example: The Paint.NET PSD plug-in enables Paint.NET to open and edit Photoshop files.
• Browser plugins that allow the browser to process new formats. Thanks to the Adobe Shockwave Player, for example, Internet Explorer can display data in Flash format.

Plugins are their own libraries and are usually added to the host application in the form of a DLL file.