Introduction
WordPress Plugins allow easy modification, customization, and enhancement to a WordPress blog. Instead of changing the core programming of WordPress, you can add functionality with WordPress Plugins. Here is a basic definition:
WordPress Plugin: A WordPress Plugin is a program, or a set of one or more functions, written in the PHP scripting language, that adds a specific set of features or services to the WordPress weblog, which can be seamlessly integrated with the weblog using access points and methods provided by the WordPress Plugin Application Program Interface (API).
Wishing that WordPress had some new or modified functionality? The first thing to do is to search various WordPress Plugin repositories and sources to see if someone has already created a WordPress Plugin that suits your needs. If not, this article will guide you through the process of creating your own WordPress Plugins.
This article assumes you are already familiar with the basic functionality of WordPress, and PHP programming.
Resources
- To understand how WordPress Plugins work and how to install them on your WordPress blog, see Plugins.
- There is a comprehensive list of articles and resources for Plugin developers, including external articles on writing WordPress Plugins, and articles on special topics, in Plugin Resources.
- To learn the basics about how WordPress Plugins are written, view the source code for well-written Plugins, such as Hello Dolly distributed with WordPress.
- Once you have written your WordPress Plugin, read Plugin Submission and Promotion to learn how to distribute it and share it with others.
