WordPress plugins are pieces of software that add functionality to your website.
When you download and install your WordPress site, you automatically get the most important features right “out of the box.” It already comes with three default themes, built-in comments, SEO optimization, and importers.
There’s also a strong application framework and the ability to use custom post types to create different content types for your site (e.g., videos, ecommerce product pages, and forms).
While this is enough to get you started with your website, you’ll want to use plugins to add functionality. Without plugins, you don’t have access to calendars, spam protection, social networking, complex galleries, forms, or other useful features.
Essentially, if you stick to just the basic features, you will have a fairly simple website. If you want to stand out from the competition or even add things like forms, you will need plugins.
Read our article to answer some of your top questions related to WordPress plugins, including how to choose the right plugins for your own WordPress site.