Plug-in (computing)

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Look up plug-in or add-on in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

In computing, a plug-in (or plugin, add-in, addin, add-on, or addon) is a software component that extends the functionality of an existing software system without requiring the system to be re-built. A plug-in feature is one way that a system can be customizable.^[1]

Applications support plug-ins for a variety of reasons including:

• Enable third-party developers to extend an application
• Support easily adding new features
• Reduce the size of an application by not loading unused features
• Separate source code from an application because of incompatible software licenses