Chapter 3. Enhancing WordPress with Plugins

With our basic site structure put into place, we can now use plugins to greatly increase the versatility of WordPress. Plugins are bits of code, typically written by third-party developers that add extra functionality to WordPress. These plugins typically add a specific ability to a site, such as a contact form or an event calendar.

In this chapter, we will explore how to find and install WordPress plugins. I will also provide you with a list of plugins that are applicable in an education setting.

Finding and installing plugins

Much like themes, plugins can be found and installed from within the WordPress administration interface. Hover over the Plugins tab in the left sidebar and choose the Add New tab. We are then presented with the Install Plugins page.

From the Install Plugins page, we are able to Search for plugins or Upload our own as well as browse the Featured, Popular, Newest, and Recently Updated plugins. Browsing the Featured and Popular...