5 Adding functionality with plugins

 

This chapter covers

  • Choosing the best plugins for your site
  • Avoiding plugin conflicts
  • Adding the Jetpack plugin’s module set
  • Managing accessibility and cookies correctly
  • Understanding the purpose of widgets
  • Creating STET widgets and plugins using AI
  • AI-generated HTML, CSS, and PHP executable code

A WordPress plugin is like an extension in Chrome, Edge, or Safari (Firefox calls them add-ons). Plugins are typically small programs that can be installed in WordPress to add functionality. Examples include spam blockers, e-commerce managers, apps that help improve the site’s rank in Google or AI searches, contact form builders, security systems, and many others.

You can find more than 50,000 plugins in the WordPress plugin directory (https://wordpress.org/plugins/). And thousands more plugins are available from third-party websites.

It can be daunting for site owners to find just the right plugins to improve their websites. That’s where this chapter comes in. Here, you’ll find

  • which kinds of plugins are useful in almost every type of site.
  • how to find plugins of the highest quality.
  • how plugins can help you incorporate certain best practices (such as ensuring accessibility).
  • how to create your own plugins and widgets using AI as your programmer.

5.1 Installing the essential plugins

5.1.1 Advanced Editor Tools

5.1.2 WP Rocket

5.2 Installing the best plugins

5.3 Turn on auto-updating

5.4 Avoid adding too many plugins

5.5 Preventing plugin conflicts

5.6 Adding Jetpack to your site

5.7 Dealing with the EU cookie law

5.8 Ensuring accessibility

5.9 Adding a sidebar

5.10 Creating your own plugins and widgets with AI

5.10.1 AI generates a widget

5.10.2 AI generates code