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, AdobeSystems, 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)