Joomla Components, Modules, Extensions, and PlugIns

Question

What is the difference between Joomla components, modules, extensions, and plugins?

Answer 1

Here is a decent link explaining the difference between modules and components - http://www.dart-creations.com/joomla/joomla-tutorials/the-difference-between-modules-and-components.html

Answer 2

Plugins

Plugins enable you to execute code in response to certain events, either Joomla core events or custom events that are triggered from your own code. This is a powerful way of extending the basic Joomla functionality.

Components

Components are the main functional units that display in your template, like the content management system, contact forms, Web Links and the like. They are usually displayed in the center of the main content area of a template (depending on the template).

Modules

A more lightweight and flexible extension used for page rendering is a module. Modules are used for small bits of the page that are generally less complex and able to be seen across different components. Sometimes modules are linked to a component such as the core latest news module.

Extensions

Components, languages, modules, plugins and templates collectively known as Extensions.

Quickstart tutorial for free.

Answer 3

very important.

modules and components are displayed on a page.

plugins operate behind teh scene and can do a multitude of things like replace content with other content, preform searches, preform login/logout functions, .. or anything really tricky that you can imagine.

There can only ever be one component on a page. When you choose menu items, you are actually choosing the component that you wish a page to display. The variables for the component are stored once...(in the database) so you cant have multiple instances of the component.

On the other hand modules are added multiple times. you can have many modules on the one page. infact you could have 100 instances of the same module on the one page. the variables for a module are stored against each instance. (in the database).

this is why joomla templates have one place holder for a component, and many place holders for modules.

A module can be added to an individual page (menu item) , or seleceted pages, or all pages.

remember that a menu item is infact a component choice. Each menu item does store variables in the database, so it is possible to feed the component display details.. eg what page id the content component is to display.

in the back end components can have many backend settinsg and functions, and "do" many more things than a module.

• examples of a component are:
  • com_content (displays articles.. most common)
  • a buletin board
  • a forum
  • a sitemap
• examples of a module:
  • a countdown clock
  • top 10 most read content
  • a poll