Regular Internet users know that they should have firewalls on their computers, anti-spam and anti-virus software for their email and anti-malware software to help block any unwanted programs that web pages try to download.  With all these security worries, WordPress users are often nervous about adding new programs to their site.  While no computer system is 100% secure, with a little knowledge and a few steps you can rest assured that plugins are safe, helpful and often even a little bit fun!

 
What is a plugin?
One of the core philosophies of WordPress is to keep the code as light and fast as possible but to provide a rich framework for developers to add to the product.  So rather than bloating WordPress with features (think about Microsoft Word and how few of its tons of features you regularly use), WordPress users decide which features they need.  Do you want to add a contact form - you can get a plugin to automate this. Do you want to add social media links - there are plugins galore.  In fact, there are over 4,245 plugins in the WordPress directory and they can extend WordPress to do almost anything you can imagine.

Where do you get plugins?
The largest collection of plugins can be found in the WordPress Directory, on the web pages for many of the plugin developers and also found on various WordPress community sites like the WordPress Plugin Database.

How do you know if a plugin is any good?
That is a key reason for using the WordPress Directory.  Each plugin description, such as this one for Get Recent Comments, includes several statistics that can guide your decision.  First, you can see a rating with 0 to 5 stars and the number of people who have rated the plugin.  You can even “see what others are saying” and read the comments they have left about the plugin.  Then, if you go to the Stats page you can see how often the plugin has been downloaded that day, the day before, that week and all time.

Typically you will far more downloads than votes and comments - don’t read anything into that.  Your hardcore WordPress users will comment and vote while the masses just download.  If the plugin has positive comments and been downloaded numerous times - you can take advantage of the WordPress community and know you are getting a good plugin.

Okay, but physically what is a plugin?
A plugin is a collection of files that are copied onto the server where your site is hosted.   Those files are typically packaged into a ZIP (compressed) file that can be installed onto your WordPress site.  While more advanced users can install the plugin files themselves, with WordPress 2.7 and above the process is made very simple which leads us to:

How do you install a plugin?
Longtime users had to know a bit more, but version 2.7 and higher of the WordPress software includes enhanced functionality and will automatically install plugins for your WordPress site.

Login in to WordPress administration and start at your Dashboard
Select Plugins.
3.       Select Add New.

4.       Now you have the option to upload a plugin that you have already received or to search the WordPress Plugin Directory

a.       If you have a plugin already than you use the Install a plugin in .zip format option.  You browse to find the file using your operating system’s file system.  Once you have selected the file, you say install. Now proceed to step 5.

b.      If you want to search for a file you actually have 3 options

                                                               i.      Click on the link in the first sentence on the screen for the WordPress Plugin Directory and then search for a plugin on the WordPress Plugin Directory.

                                                             ii.      Type a search term in and select search and then using the narrowed down list, search for a plugin on the WordPress Plugin Directory.

                                                            iii.      Click on a popular tag on the bottom of the page and then using the narrowed down list, search for a plugin on the WordPress Plugin Directory.

c.       Once you find the plugin you want, click on install.

5.       This step will depend on your configuration.  In most cases your FTP information is already stored in your configuration.  However, if prompted you will need your FTP hostname, username, password and connection type.  Then click Proceed.  If you do need to do this step it will be one time only as WordPress will remember this.

6.       You will see the installation messages and then you can click on Activate and you have a brand new WordPress Plugin

If there is a conflict, can I get rid of a plugin?
As noted before, each plugin can be installed and removed via the WordPress menus.  However, there is a nice safety valve in the rare cases where a plugin prevents WordPress from loading.  If you go to your WordPress Dashboard and select Plugins > Installed and then scan down the page you will see “If something goes wrong with a plugin and you can’t use WordPress, delete or rename that file in the /name of your site/wp-content/plugins directory and it will be automatically deactivated.”  Unlike Windows where files are installed, drivers copied on and registry setting adjusted - a plugin simply goes in one location completely separate from all other plugins and WordPress itself.

How many plugins can I have?
There is no limit to the number of plugins - other than there are only so many that will make sense for any one site.  Explore - and take advantage of the work of the WordPress community to enhance your WordPress site.

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4. WordPress Plugins - The Professional Touch
5. Wordpress Installation Guide