There are about 6,000 extensions in total and up to 300 extensions per category on the official Joomla website, so choosing the right Joomla extension can be difficult. There are also other developer websites and web archives which offer even more plugins.
It is particularly difficult for newcomers who are just creating their first website to figure out the wide range ofextensions. Joomla simplifies things for users by categorizing the extensions into themes and subdividing the themes into subcategories. The search for the right extension can still be confusing for experienced users. Imagine looking through a slideshow of 270 extensions to find the most suitable one!
Users should consider a few things when choosing Joomla extensions. The extensions ensure that continuous improvements are being made by checking that only a good-quality software is added and regular security updates are carried out. It is a good idea to regularly check the most recent updates to avoid security risks. You can check for updates for Joomla plugins on the overview page.
Extensions should only be downloaded from trusted sources. Joomla’s official web catalog has a wide variety of reliable plugins. Users can get information on the extensions directly from the developer or by searching the forum. Joomla has a strong community which provides a great customer service for other users. The forum is a good point of contact to get advice from experienced users on the Joomla extensions. Users can also form an opinion based on an extension’s rating. The overall rating, functionality details, and scope of support for each extension is available on the official Joomla website.
A high score in stars and a significant number of reviews is a good indication to users. It is worth noting that the costs associated with plugins may mean that they are regularly updated, as it is in the developers’ interest to have the extension working properly for users.
It is advised to trial the functions in a protected test environment to check the compatibility with your existing website before adopting the extension in the live environment.