Why do WordPress websites require plugins ?
Plugins are extensions that you apply to your WordPress site to extend its capabilities. There is no requirement to gather all plugins, unlike Pokemon. Too many low-quality plugins will slow down a website (especially if they have interoperability issues), and it is common knowledge that Google dislikes slow websites. If you want to achieve a high search engine ranking, be selective about which and how many plugins you install.
Paid versus Free WordPress Plugins
There are literally thousands of free WordPress plugins available for download from the Plugin Directory on WordPress.org. There are also premium or paid plugins for WordPress.
Why would you choose to purchase a plugin? There are various explanations:
While the plugin directory contains thousands of free plugins, commercial plugins typically include a full-time support staff and developers who monitor the security and compatibility of plugins with the most recent version of WordPress and other themes and plugins.
The majority of the time, plugins are compatible with the core of WordPress and other plugins, however occasionally a plugin’s code will interfere with another plugin, causing compatibility concerns. With a paid plugin, it’s comforting to know that support staff is available to assist you if anything goes wrong.
You may be wondering what kinds of functions plugins can perform. Well, if you can think it, there likely exists a plugin for it. Simply peruse the WordPress plugin directory to discover all the ways plugins can extend or improve your WordPress website.
They are quite simple to install.
• Select “Plugins” from the left-hand menu.
• Select “Add new”
• To locate a certain plugin, type its name in the search box in the upper-right corner.
• Once the relevant plugin has been located, click the “Install” button.
• To activate the plugin after installation, click the “Activate” button.
There are a few things I can tell you about the (lack of) quality of a plugin (this is particularly true for plugins with their own plugin pages on the WordPress.org website):
Is the plugin highly rated?
A high rating is a criterion that must be approached with care. Not all highly rated WordPress plugins are worth installing on your site. If a small number of individuals participated in the evaluation, a high ranking is not indicative of quality. Following the stars are parenthesis containing the quantity of persons.
How many websites use this plugin currently?The number of active installs is one of the strongest indicators of plugin quality, since users do not employ plugins that do not perform their intended function correctly.
How frequently is the plugin updated? When was the most recent update?
Even if it may not appear so at first glance, this is one of the most crucial points. Since WordPress is updated multiple times each year, it is crucial that the plugin is also updated frequently to remain compatible with the most recent version of WordPress.
Updates are also essential since they address security vulnerabilities and other issues with the plugin’s operation.
In their reviews, what do users of the plugin have to say about it?
If a plugin has a high rating and a significant number of active installations, is this not evidence of its quality? Why then do you read the comments?
Some plugins may perform well initially, but their functionality may decline over time. The best method to determine this is by reading the comments.
In the same location, you will discover the most common issues that arise when using this plugin.
How difficult is the plugin to install and use?
Some plugins are easier to use than others, and some require some effort to get functioning.
This information is typically located on one of the plugin page’s tabs (either “Installation” or “Screenshots”).
30 percent of the 10 million largest websites are powered by WordPress. It owns almost sixty percent of the market share for CMS platforms.
Not to mention, it is a well-liked website management system. WordPress is an excellent platform, but its native features are limited. Therefore, there exist extras such as plugins.
The WordPress core is simple. It can be personalized with accessories. When you install an add-on to your WordPress site, you have access to additional features that are not available in the core WordPress installation.
Why are WordPress plugins necessary?Plugins for WordPress extend functionality or add new features. Plugins for WordPress can range in size from a few lines of code to several hundred code files.
How reliable are plugins for WordPress?
Popular WordPress plugins are trustworthy. They are downloaded millions of times, have great ratings, and are created by developers who have gained a positive reputation in the community by building perfect add-ons and giving superior support.
Can I avoid using plugins by incorporating Code Snippets?
Although adding custom snippets to your website is optional and you can frequently find plugins that perform the same function, a simple snippet might be beneficial in some situations. Some clips can be really beneficial and assist you in fixing a variety of common WordPress mistakes, enhancing WordPress security, and even adding new features to your website.
How WordPress plugins may affect website security, speed, and performance negatively
Keep in mind that even the most skilled WordPress plugin developers can make mistakes.
All information about your website is stored in a database by plugins. When the add-on stores information and provides it to you, it will very certainly do additional database queries. This causes an increase in the site’s load and, in some situations, a slowdown.
Therefore, it is essential to determine the plugin’s importance to your website if it queries the database frequently. Remember that well-designed add-ons and hosting services can help mitigate this effect.
Some plugins, such as those that alter your website’s appearance, require special scripts to function. This causes CSS or JavaScript files to require reloading. A website comprises numerous scripts and resources (images or multimedia content).
Each file sends an HTTP request to the server hosting the page. The server receives the request, downloads the file, and returns it to the visitor’s terminal, where it is combined with the other files to reconstruct the page.
The issue with this is that the HTTP protocol can occasionally transport files slowly, which increases the time required to display the pages on your website.
Keep in mind that a few additional HTTP requests should not be a problem unless your website has a very big number of pages.
Before installing a new add-on on your website, you should ensure that no other add-on already offers the same function. By doing so, you will accomplish two goals: you will prevent many plug-ins from performing the same function, and you will prevent plug-in conflicts.
Keep in mind that the more plugins you install on your website, the more requests sent to the server and the longer your pages will take to load. Incompatibility between add-ons is a further factor in performance reduction.
It is well-known that certain add-ons do not function normally while others are installed. This may result in sluggish page loading and occasional crashes.
As a website owner or administrator, website security should always be in the forefront of your mind, as hackers can jeopardize hours, if not years, of labor or a carefully cultivated reputation.
All software, especially those designed for the Internet, is susceptible to some type of piracy. WordPress is no exception to this norm, as all community activities are aimed in this direction. Obviously, this is the time for Virusdie to intervene.
So, let’s summarize:
Problem No. 1: Negative effect on security (through vulnerabilities)
Effects detrimental to performance, speed, and SEO
Additional HTTP requests
increased database request volume
Large database
Issue 3: Site downtime and unreliability (compatibility issues)
Issue 4: Accessibility-related factors
Issue #5: Redundant functionalities
Issue #6: Website maintainability
Issue #7 WordPress admin difficulty
How to avoid plugin problems
– Employ a dependable hosting service – Conduct routine backups – Optimize your database – Remove inactive plugins – Patch existing plugins for security holes – Check for duplicate plugin functionality.
The answer to the question “How many plugins should I use?” is irrelevant.
Focus on the quality of WordPress plugins rather than their quantity
With so many plugins available, it can be difficult to determine which ones are necessary for your WordPress site and which ones are bloatware.
Deshalb haben wir developed a list of plugins that we suggest for nearly all WordPress websites:
An SEO plugin called SEOPress
WP Fluent Forms, a plugin for forms
A plugin for routine site backups: WP Migration Plugin
- Page performance optimization plugins: SiteGround Optimizer, EWWW, and ShortPixel
- An anti-spam plugin: CleanTalk
Clicky is a tracking analytics plugin.
- WordPress plugin for customization: Elementor
Security extension: Virusdie
Conclusion
When it comes to the quantity of plugins on your website, fewer is more. Before you begin your search, you should answer the question “why do I need the plugin?” and examine the available plugins and their ratings. And do not forget about security; it should always take precedence.
