What is the difference between plugin and widget in wordpress

And thus with each niche, the necessity and the requirement of more features has also expanded. Therefore, the introduction to WordPress plugins and widgets.

As a beginner, some might come across difficulty understanding the differences between plugins and widgets. While both of these are there to extend functionality, it works as different elements.

So while we are at it, today we wanted to talk in-depth about the topic. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you fully understand how each of it works to expand the features of a WordPress website.

A WordPress plugin is an extension or a piece of software, which is usually there to add additional features to a specific website. Users are required to install and activate the plugin before being able to use it. Depending on the purpose of the plugin, the functions vary. Plugins are usually written using the PHP programming language which makes it easy to seamlessly integrate with WordPress. It could also serve as a back-end function and can be hidden from the public users to see.

Some of the plugins work in the background and require no additional customization and settings while some will add a new menu on the Dashboard. A WordPress widget, however, is a representational form of a plugin which is usually visible on the website. Users can place these elements on the widget-friendly areas on a site usually on the Footers and sidebars. Viewed 2k times. Improve this question. Suman Kalyan Suman Kalyan 1 1 gold badge 4 4 silver badges 15 15 bronze badges.

This question appears to be off-topic because it is not about programming and should be asked at WordPress Development. Add a comment. Active Oldest Votes. According to, and elaborating on the WordPress Codex : Plugins Plugins are ways to extend and add to the functionality that already exists in WordPress.

Widgets WordPress Widgets add content and features to your Sidebars. Improve this answer. Sign up or log in Sign up using Google. Sign up using Facebook. Sign up using Email and Password. Post as a guest Name. Email Required, but never shown. The Overflow Blog. Podcast Explaining the semiconductor shortage, and how it might end. Google Fonts lets you add additional fonts that WordPress itself does not yet know. Or a second Example, maybe you also have an Instagram account and you want to add your Feed to your Blog.

Instagram is a separate company so it makes sense that WordPress would not automatically know how to connect with your Feed. In this case, you would install the Plugin which adds this additional function to your Blog. You connect this plugin to your account and Boom you have your feed on your Blog. You cannot install Plugins and make money from your Blog with a WordPress. ORG Blog! I go into a lot of details in the related post below but if you have a Free Website and this also goes with other providers such as WIX.

I hope you found this first section useful and it made it a little bit clearer of what is the difference between a WordPress Widget and a Plugin. Because in this next section I would like to provide you with a list of Widgets and Plugins I recommend you to use on your Blog. Here we go:. This will look different for each depending on the Theme you have installed on your Blog. Want to read it later? If you are searching for a specific name please enter the name in the search function.

This way I do not have to include those sections manually each time I write a post but. Use it to protect my Blog from spam. It keeps my site protected even while I sleep or when I am inactive on the website!

Super easy plugin! One of the only premium Plugins I use. Definitely a secret Blogger Tool!