A plugin is an application that allows you to add functions to a browser or other software.
From the Latin complementum , complement is something that is added to something to improve it or make it whole . The term has various uses depending on the context.
In the field of grammar , a complement is a series of syntactic constituents that are required by a nucleus to clarify, specify, extend or complete the meaning of the phrase they head. It is possible to distinguish between noun complements and verb complements.
“The manager will arrive shortly.”, “We bring dessert”, “Juan bought a plant for the patio” y “He hit hard” son ejemplos de oraciones que incluyen complementos sintácticos.
Complement in computing
For computing , a complement is an application that provides a new and usually specific function to a program ( software ). It is common for complements (also known as add-ons ) to be collaborations of external developers that improve the functions of the main application. For example: “I installed a plugin in my browser that translates pages instantly” , “You need a plugin to play those types of files” .
Without a doubt, translators are one of the most popular web browser add-ons, as they allow the most curious to enjoy a greater volume of content, although their degree of accuracy is not extremely reliable. However, if they are used as instant dictionaries of individual terms or set phrases, they are very useful. In the case of languages like Japanese, which shamelessly combine four alphabets, being able to place the cursor over a term and immediately obtain a series of possible meanings is something difficult to reject.
Ad blockers
Another type of highly sought-after plugin is the one that blocks advertisements on websites, to facilitate navigation and avoid unintentionally clicking on them. Among its benefits are the following: the elimination of certain images and videos with erotic content, since they can be uncomfortable in certain areas and violent for children; it makes it safer to work on one's own projects, since it definitively avoids the possibility of being penalized for clicking on advertising; speeds up video loading.
However, blocking advertisements is not beneficial for everyone, as it brings a significant loss to the owners of the sites we visit. We must not forget that many people live off the income they obtain from advertising, so preventing them from loading is not very different from sneaking into a theater without buying a ticket .
A bag or wallet is a fashion accessory.
Other browser plugins
Firebug, for example, is an add-on for Firefox that offers a large number of tools for web developers, both programmers and designers. Although today its functions are present in other browsers by default, it is still extremely useful to make real-time modifications to a page to analyze the potential results before working directly on the source code.
With a plugin it is also possible to download videos or extract their audio and convert it to the desired format , such as MP3. Once again, this cannot always be considered an absolutely legal activity, since it is not a function that sites like YouTube offer by default and the original content does not belong to us, so it is not our responsibility to keep a copy of it. .
The term in biology, geometry and fashion
Biology uses the notion of complement to refer to the set of plasma proteins that react in a cascade to defend the organism from a hostile agent. The complement system is part of the immune response.
In geometry , complement is the angle that, added to another, completes a right angle. In other words, the complement is the difference between a certain angle and a right angle.
Clothing accessories, whether male or female, are also called accessories: “I already have the dress for Saturday's party: now I have to choose some accessories.”