Apps, Components, Plugins, and Widgets can extend the functionality of your website. These tools are designed to add new features, enhance user experience, and improve overall website performance. With the vast number of options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to include on your site. In this article, we will explore the differences between apps, widgets, plugins, modules, and components and how they can benefit your website.
As a professional website developer, we take a different approach to managing our clients. We never pretend to be like “the great and powerful Oz” behind the curtain creating magical websites from scratch. As a matter of fact, we often tell our clients exactly how we achieve the objectives that they hire us to accomplish. We take this approach because we realize that clients who embrace their administrative control panels (no matter what platform) are more likely to be successful. This is why we take the time to train our clients how to navigate and use various sections of their website admin section, including how to update articles, pages, posts, apps, widgets, plugins, components and modules.
Before you learn how to update these add-ons. You must first understand the difference. 1st you must understand that their are various website platforms, examples being WordPress, Shopify, and Joomla. Each of these platforms calls their added functions something different.
Shopify uses the following terminology: Shopify content pages are referred to as pages, with a separate blog section where content is referred to as posts.. Shopify add-ons are referred to as apps or applications.
WordPress uses the following terminology: WordPress content pages are referred to as pages, with a separate blog section where content is referred to as posts. WordPress add-ons are referred to as plugins, which can be placed in sections or areas of your website using widgets or page sections.
Joomla uses the following terminology: Joomla content pages are referred to as articles, now constructed in a manner that can be organized and displayed in a blog format. Joomla add-ons are referred to as components and/or modules (with functionality built in). Modules can then be placed in sections or areas of your website using modules.
Widgets are small pieces of code that can be added to any website platform.
AdverGroup Web Design has been developing websites for over 20 years. We do more than build boiler plate websites, we also maintain the ability to design and develop custom apps, widgets, plugins, components, and modules to achieve special functionality on just about every website platform (including but not limited to WordPress, Shopify and Joomla). That being said we also understand the benefit of hitting the easy button. This article not only provides a brief introduction into understanding the difference between Apps, Widgets, Plugins, Components, and Modules. This article also shares some valuable resources on how to achieve some of this “special functionality” using plug and play solutions from trusted 3rd party developers.
It is important to know that there are 3rd party developers that produce these add-ons which provide extended functionality to specific platforms. Some of these 3rd party developers code their solutions specific to WordPress, Shopify or Joomla. While some may also take the time to make sure their solution is coded to work for all of the aforementioned platforms.
In that regard, here is a valuable tidbit relative to plugins, modules and widgets. Did you know that plugins are like add-ons for your website, giving it extra functionality and features? These can include things like contact forms, social media integration, video players, music players or even e-commerce capabilities. Modules, on the other hand, are blocks of content that can be added to specific areas of a page. Widgets are similar to modules, but they typically appear in the sidebar or footer of a webpage.
A good example of special functionality offered by widgets is a trusted 3rd Party Developer of which we frequently use on websites that we develop for clients. The name of that developer is ElfSight Widgets. Elfsight widgets has over 60 widgets that you can deploy on your website without having to perform any custom coding. Elfsight Widgets can help you transform your website into a dynamic powerhouse. They have everything you need to engage your audience, boost sales, and grow your business. With our suite of over 75+ customizable widgets, you can do it all:
- Showcase reviews from Google, Yelp, Amazon, and more to build trust.
- Integrate social feeds from Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter for dynamic content.
- Engage users with tools like WhatsApp Chat, AI Chatbots, and Interactive Polls.
- Boost conversions with Countdown Timers, Pricing Tables, and Spinning Wheels.
- Enhance functionality with tools like Appointment Booking, Event Calendars, and Product Calculators.
From embedding vibrant photo galleries to creating interactive menus, our tools are designed to make your website stand out while delivering a seamless user experience.
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By empowering our clients with this knowledge, we not only foster a sense of collaboration and partnership with them, but we also set them up for success in managing their own online presence.
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This video tutorial demonstrates how to edit, create and/or duplicate Joomla articles and modules using the Joomla 4 content management system.
