Most computer users know that web browsers can perform a lot of tasks on their own. For example, a web browser displays pages and words with software programming languages like Java and HTML. However, when it comes to dealing with more sophisticated software features like video, audio, and Flash content, web browsers can’t really handle the task on their own.
In order to handle the more difficult computer tasks, many software companies offer plug-ins. Plug-ins are little bits of software that work closely with the web browser, allowing it to display page elements like frames, graphics, video, images, and more. Keep in mind that the plug-in enables a lot of features that you don’t normally have on a web page, so it’s worth taking the time to install it.
As an example, one particular software company designs a Flash program. As a web designer, you have to purchase and install the software in order to display the flash content on the Internet. Then, if someone wants to view certain elements on your web page, the viewer has to go to the company’s website to download the Flash plug-in to his/her computer. A Flash plug-in is a software program that allows you to perform certain tasks like playing a video or listening to music. Without it, people who view your website aren’t unable to perform those types of tasks.
So, if you’ve ever gone to a web page and wondered why some of its elements didn’t work (or certain graphics or video didn’t display), you probably need to install a plug-in. There’s a little bit of extra work involved to install the plug-in, but after all it’s free, and once you install it, you can view videos with a media player, listen to music, and view more interactive elements on the page.