Plug-in vs. Add-on vs Extension?

Discussion of features in Mozilla Firefox
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galt57
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Plug-in vs. Add-on vs Extension?

Post by galt57 »

Are these all synonyms or is there some specific meaning implied here?

Thanks!
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DanRaisch
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Re: Plug-in vs. Add-on vs Extension?

Post by DanRaisch »

Add-ons is a collective term for plug-ins and extensions.

Extensions are programs developed by independent authors to extend the functionality of Firefox (or other Mozilla products) but usually working with existing functions. See the AOM site for examples -- https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

Plug-ins are more often programs supplied by third party providers (most ofter larger companies) to add functions not found in Firefox. Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Java, Silverlight, Shockwave, etc are examples of plug-ins.
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James
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Re: Plug-in vs. Add-on vs Extension?

Post by James »

DanRaisch wrote:Add-ons is a collective term for plug-ins and extensions.

and Themes. Themes is a visual design or style for the application.

Except for a small number by Mozilla, most Extensions are done by a third-party.

Before Firefox 2.0 or even 3.0, the Extensions, Themes and Plugins were refereed to by their names, then Mozilla decided to group them as Addons which then lead to some newer users to refer to Extensions or even Themes and Plugins as Addons and made doing support sometimes more work.
andriuz
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Re: Plug-in vs. Add-on vs Extension?

Post by andriuz »

DanRaisch wrote:Add-ons is a collective term for plug-ins and extensions.

Extensions are programs developed by independent authors to extend the functionality of Firefox (or other Mozilla products) but usually working with existing functions. See the AOM site for examples -- https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/

Plug-ins are more often programs supplied by third party providers (most ofter larger companies) to add functions not found in Firefox. Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Java, Silverlight, Shockwave, etc are examples of plug-ins.


Confusion causes the fact in the browser itself it uses both terms interchangeably "Get Add-ons" but once installed they reside under the "Extensions" tab.
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DanRaisch
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Re: Plug-in vs. Add-on vs Extension?

Post by DanRaisch »

In that dialogue, Add-ons is a collective term for extensions and themes, both of which are available from AMO.

Plus you are commenting on a thread that has been idle for more than two years. Locking now due to the age of the original posts.
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