< 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)