Difference between add-on and plug in
add-on vs plug in:
In today’s world, it is not enough that one uses an object as it is, whether it be a dress, a food, a sort of a mechanical gadget, a software or even a web browser. Certain functions need certain enhancements which help improve its performance is certain specific fields. This is where add ons and plug ins come in. add ons and plug ins are two tools which add certain features to your web browser which in turn enhances and boosts up its performance. Yet the difference between these two features is quite grey.
What is an add on?
An add on can be defined as a tool which add certain features to an already existing program, enhancing its performance in the process. Add ons allow content to be manipulated and changed to meet a certain users’ perception of what a web site or web page should look like and allows the user to customize the user interface and add all kinds of new features to the program. It personalizes a browser and it keeps the browser clean and simple which can be appealing to the user. Add ons are usually program specific. For example, an add on which is originally intended for FireFox will not function on any other sort of program. Another example would be a tool bar for browsers which is a functionality which allows the users to create shortcuts which lead to their favorite sites more easily.
What is a plug in?
Plug is can be referred to as a third party software which is necessary for the function of certain programs and usually interacts with another program. It renders something compatible with a certain type of a program which is not native to the already existing program. Plug ins result in the enhancement of a certain program or a software which also helps in conducting certain functionalities which were not otherwise possible in that particular program prior the installation of the software. For example, one can point out the flash player which is a plug manufactured by Adobe in that is necessary to have in order to view videos. It is compatible with many types of web browsers such as Google Chrome, Opera, FireFox, etc. another example is the Java plug in made by Sun Microsystem which is used to run programs based on Java.
What is the difference between a plug in and an add on?
While both plug ins and add ons are separate programs which result in enhancing the performance of a web browser, they have their differences. The main aspect in which they differe is the fact that while add ons enhance the performance of a program by adding extended feature sto it, a plug in boosts certain aspects and functionalities of a browser by adding a software which is necessary for the function of certain programs, thereby making it more compatible with a program. Also, a plug in is a complete program whereas an add on is not.
Another key feature that distinguishes the two is the fact that while add ons are program specific and one add on which is intended for one sort of program cannot be used in another program, plug ins are not program specific. Add ons meant for FireFox cannot be installed on another browser and yet, a plug in such as Java or Flash can be installed to any computer and is solely concerned about the functionality of that feature and not the eb browser that it is installed to.
Add ons are case specific whereas plug ins are not.