Plugin Architecture
WordPress is one of the most powerfully advanced free and open source blogging tools and dynamic content management systems (CMS) available, which is based on PHP and MySQL. It provides an advanced array of features including its plug-in architecture and a template system. One very popular feature of WordPress is its rich plugin architecture which allows users and developers to extend its abilities beyond the features that are part of the base install. WordPress has a database of over 18,000 plugins, with Plugins ranging from SEO to adding widgets, and it continues to grow every day with developers creating and submitting new such plugins and widgets to its database.
The Main Purpose of Plugins
Plugins are tools whose primary purpose or function is to extend the functionality of WordPress and they are only applicable to self-hosted blogs and web sites using the WordPress.org software . Every plugin offers custom functions and features so that a user can tailor customize their site to to perform to their specific needs.
Plugins usually serve as an easy method when it comes to the modification, customization, and enhancement of any WordPress blog. Instead of having to dabble or change the core programming of WordPress, one can add functionality with a variety Plugins by which to perform certain functions or add the necessary features they wish to one’s Website.
A Plugin is a program, or a set of one or more functions, which is written in PHP scripting language, and adds a specific set of features or services to your WordPress powered site or blog. Such Plugins can be effortlessly integrated with your weblog using certain access points and methods which are provided by the WordPress Plugin Application Program Interface (API).
JQuery Architecture & Constructs
Most Plugins require the use of the JQuery architecture which developers use many of its constructs by which to create plug-ins and code so as to extend its overall functionality. JQuery’s syntax has been designed to make it easier to navigate a document, select DOM elements, create animations, handle events, and develop Ajax applications. JQuery also provides capabilities for developers to create plug-ins on top of the JavaScript library.
Presently, there are thousands of jQuery plug-ins available on the web which cover a wide range of functionality and enhancement features such as Ajax helpers, webservices, datagrids, dynamic lists, XML and XSLT tools, drag and drop, events, cookie handling, modal windows and a vast array of other web enhancing features which can transform a websites performance and appearance. An important source of jQuery plug-ins is the Plugins sub-domain of the jQuery Project website.
However, in an effort to rid the site of spam, the plugins in this subdomain were accidentally deleted in December 2011. The new site will include a GitHub-hosted repository, which will require developers to resubmit their plugins and to conform to new submission requirements. The tutorials page on the jQuery site has a list of links to jQuery plug-in tutorials under the “Plugin development” section, and their JQuery Plugin Archive database, while the site continues to be under the re-development process.
JQuery Plugin Possibilities
In the meantime, there are thousands of Plugin Developers who have worked to extend the possibilities of the JQuery Library, and thousands more who contribute to the JQuery plugins repository which further extend the functionality of plugins available on the WP Plugin Repository, which provide plenty of opportunities for users to add new features and functionality to their WP self hosted websites. In this post we are featuring 26 JQuery Powerful Plugins which will allow you to take your WordPress-powered site well beyond just a mere Blog state. We hope some of the plugins listed below will be suitable for your own web related project. Enjoy !
1. JSCharting : JavaScript Chart Plugin
A native SVG resolution independent charting library that seamlessly integrates into your site. A huge sample set and extensive documentation make working with this plugin fast and efficient. In addition to a free trial, there is also an online editor which enables real-time modification of chart settings to quickly customize charts available through the chart type gallery.
2. Sequence
Sequence is jQuery plugin that allows you to slide the content without a default theme but leaving the complete control to you. Sequence uses a semantic markup and supports responsive layouts and also touches devices and swiping, Sequence enables users to use any type of contents and let them display in an infinite slider logic.
3. Camera : Responsive jQuery Slideshow Plugin
Camera is a powerful yet lightweight responsive jquery slideshow plugin which enables you to create slides with any HTML elements images, text, videos, etc.) and Camera displays them with a good looking interface + a set of transitions. The plugin can be skinned via CSS and there are already multiple skins provided.
4. Flexslider
Flexslider is simple and semantic markup jQuery plugin with high resolution support and works on every available browser. The most beautiful feature of Flexslider is, users can navigate the plugin through keyboard, navigation buttons and it also supports touch swipe navigation.
5. Royal Slider: Powerful Responsive jQuery Slider
Royal Slider is a jQuery plugin for displaying any HTML content (images, videos, text..) inside a slider interface and comes with awesome features. The slider is very customizable with 50+ options, 4 skins with PSD files, 9 pre-built templates (and more coming) and full CSS styling. It works in all major browsers, the output is responsive down to mobile(touch friendly) and works fast, thanks to CSS3 animations (with JS fallback).
6. CraftySlide : Tiny jQuery Slider
Craftyslide is a jQuery image slider plugin for anyone looking to create a slider with only the standard and most-used features. It accepts unordered lists, can display captions, has a bullet navigation besides prev-next ones and uses fade animation for transitions.
Typography Plugins
7. FitText
FitText makes font-sizes flexible. Use this plugin on your responsive design to achieve scalable headlines that fill the width of the parent element. FitText auto updates the font-size according to the width of element so that it can fit to the layout and it promises you a non-breakable layout even if your web page is displayed into a mobile browser or a desktop browser.
8. Arctext.js
Arctext.js is a jQuery plugin that enables you calculates the right rotation of each letter and distributes the letters equally across the imaginary arc of the given radius.
9. jQisoText : jQuery Text Effect Plugin
This plugin helps to you to change size of letters in text. It starts from one font size and increment or decrement to other font size. That can be done for whole block of text or for every word in some text.
10. Textualizer
Textualizer is 4kb lightweight jQuery Plugin that helps you to create beautiful effects on text. Textualizer allows you to transition through blurb of text, when transitioning to a new blurb, any character that is common to the next blurb is kept on the screen and moved to its new position.
11. Lettring.Js
Lettering.js is a jQuery plugin for radical web typography, the plugin gives you control over letters to create textual effects.
12. jQuery Text Resizer Plugin
The Text Resizer plugin attempts to solve one problem: that of resizing text on demand by the user where the user is given the option to enlarge or decrease the size of the website’s text. This is especially useful for sites where it is expected that older visitors will make use of the site.
jQuery Page Flipping Book Like Plugins
13. jPage Flip
PageFlip is a jQuery plugin to simulate the turning of book pages. jPageFlip is currently based on the “canvas technology”, which is only supported by Firefox, Chrome, Opera and Safari, at least in their latest versions. Internet Explorer 8 (IE8) does not support the canvas technology; this will only come with IE9.
14. Flip
Flip is a jQuery plugin that will flip easily your elements in four directions. Flip allows you to define the directions where you want to flip your content, you can also define background color, speed of animation, and it also supports onAnimation and OnEnd animation where animation executed on given time.
15. Turn.js
Turn.js is a plugin for jQuery that adds a beautiful transition similar to real pages in book or magazine for HTML5. It gives you beautiful animation effect and you can browse the pages by simply turning the pages from any desired corner. Turn.js (15kb) is pretty lightweight and effective page flip plugin that works on mobile & tablet browsers as well and makes use hardware acceleration.
16. Booklet
Booklet is a jQuery tool for displaying content on the web in a flipbook layout. It was built using the jQuery library. Licensed under both MIT and GPL licenses. You can place any sort of html elements inside of your booklet pages. There is no limit to the possibilities you can create. Even using simple options, you can have elaborate displays.
17. Flip Page
FlipPage is a jQuery plugin that creates the illusion of turning the pages of a book.
Originally developed for presentation on a touch pad, it can also find its place in an application such as e-book. This plugin was developed to use HTML5/CSS3 graphic hardware power and thus create a smoother animation.
jQuery Tool Tip Plugins
18. Grumble.js
Grumble.js provides special tooltips without the usual limitations of north/east/south/west positioning. A grumble can be rotated around a given element at any angle, all 360 degrees. Any distance can be specified.
Any CSS style can be applied. There’s auto-magic size adjustment for use with localized text. FX queues for animating multiple grumbles.
19. QTip2
qTip2 is the second generation of the advanced qTip plugin for the ever popular jQuery framework. Building on 1.0’s user friendly, yet feature rich base, qTip2 provides you with tonnes of features like speech bubble tips and imagemap support, and completely free under the MIT/GPLv2 licenses.
20. Colortip : Tooltip Plugin
Colortip converts the title attributes of elements within your page, into a series of colorful tooltips. Six color themes are available, so you can easily match it with the rest of your design.
21. iPicture
iPicture, a jQuery plugin, is perfect for such cases and allows us to place tooltips over any desired location of images. Once the user hovers/clicks the pointers, the tooltip is displayed with its pre-defined content.
22. Bubble Popup
jQuery Bubble Popup is a plugin for the popular JS framework that helps creating chic tooltips which can be controlled easily. The tooltips are shown/hidden with fading animations and any HTML content can be displayed inside them.
jQuery Plugins for EU Cookie Law
23. Cookiecuttr
This is a beautiful plugin that handles many scenarios you may need to obey the EU Cookie Law. It allows you to hide any given parts of a website (the parts which generates cookies), and display sensitive modal boxes to users with asking for permission to use cookies.
24. Cookiedirective.js
The plugin works by simply inserting a function to the web pages and prompts the user to accept “cookie usage” for the site. Cookie creating scripts should be inserted into that function and they’ll be executed automatically if the user accepts it.
25. cPrompt
The plugin displays a notification to visitors asking “if they let cookies by this site to be enabled”. Depending on the status (the first time user visits the page, cookies are rejected or accepted), the notification bar changes colors.
26. Cookiegurad
CookieGuard is a little more complicated yet feature-rich solution that allows defining cookies one-by-one and defining if they are “essential” or not. Once it notifies the users about the cookies, they can select which ones to be activated or choose to enable all “essential” ones but not the others.
