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Browsers & Plug-ins

What is a Plug-in?

Web browsers were originally designed to display just text and graphics. With the availability of multimedia on the Internet, software was needed to assist browsers in enabling you to access the additional media. Plug-ins were developed as software you could add to a browser so you would be able to access interactive multimedia.

Plug-ins literally plug into your browser and enable you to view animations, play audio or video files, or move around in virtual 3-D worlds. Previously known as helper applications, once installed, plug-ins are automatically started when you click on the particular multi-media you want to access. Plug-ins cannot run by themselves, but work with your browser.