Software that you attach to a browser to enable it to display specific data formats.
Browser plug-in is a piece of software (ActiveX component in Microsoft Windows) that is installed in a web browser and allows special types of media and/or interactivity to be embedded into web pages. Browser plug-ins are potentially unsafe programs because they execute their code on the client computer. For this reason, browsers disallow installation of new plug-ins by default (and the users are usually reluctant to allow it either). Examples of popular browser plug-ins are Macromedia Flash player (almost all computers), Macromedia Authorware player (less popular) etc.
an application that can be installed within a user's web browser
A software component that interacts with a Web browser to provide capabilities or perform functions not otherwise included in the browser. Typical examples are plug-ins to display specific graphic formats, to play multimedia files or to add toolbars which include searching or anti-phishing services. Plug-ins can also perform potentially unwanted behaviors such as redirecting search results or monitoring user browsing behavior, connections history, or installing other unwanted software like nuisance or harmful adware. Types of Browser plug-ins include: ActiveX controls: A type of Browser Plug-in that is downloaded and executed by the Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser. Browser Helper Object (BHOs): A Type of Browser Plug-in that is executed each time the Microsoft Internet Explorer Web browser is launched. Toolbars are a common form of BHO. Mozilla Firefox Extensions: A Browser Plug-in specific to Mozilla Firefox.
a scaled down or miniature version of an application generally designed to present its proprietary content format within a web browser
Additional software that is installed on your computer, which extends the functionality of your Web browser.
A client application, usually not Java-based, that can be dynamically downloaded from a Web server when invoked from a Web browser, and then executed on the client. A browser plug-in is required to run IE 1-centric ActiveX software with Netscape.