plug-in
<tool> A file containing data used to alter, enhance, or extend the
operation of a parent application program. One of the first uses of this term
was in Silicon Beach's SuperPaint application (late 1980s?) for the Macintosh.
It had a Plug-ins folder containing different tools and effects.
The Netscape Navigator World-Wide Web browser supports plug-ins which display or
interpret a particular file format or protocol such as Shockwave, RealAudio,
Adobe Systems, Inc. PDF, Corel CMX (vector graphics). The file to be displayed
is included in a web page using an EMBED HTML tag.
Plug-ins, both commercially and indepently authored, can usually be downloaded
for free and are stored locally. Plug-ins come in different versions specific to
particular operating systems (Microsoft Windows 3.1, 3.2, and Macintosh are
available).
Compare applet.
Plug-in Plaza.
PC Mag Plug-ins.
(1996-05-25)
Nearby terms:
Plug Compatible Manufacturer « Pluggable
Authentication Module « plugh « plug-in »
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