# What is an add-on and what does it do?

Every [browser](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-a-browser/) can have its features expanded with add-ons. This allows the browser to be tailored precisely to your own needs by retroactively adding in features that the browser doesn’t normally have.

## What are add-ons used for?

The following types of add-ons are the most popular at the moment:

- Language support, such as Google Translate, Grammarly, etc.
- Ad blockers such as AdBlock Plus or uBlock origin
- Online conference features such as Cisco Webex, Skype, Google Hangouts, etc.
- Social media tools, such as for Instagram, Pinterest, or others
- Video downloaders
- Website screenshot tools such as Fireshot, Evernote Web Clipper, etc.
- Password managers such as LastPass

Browser add-ons are usually called “extensions”, but this depends on the browser. They come from independent developers and are offered in browser-specific online stores.

Definition Add-ons are small programs that expand or extend the features of a browser.

## Where can you find browser add-ons?

**Chrome**

In Chrome, add-ons are called “Extensions”. You can get Chrome to show you your installed extensions by typing the following in the address bar:

```none
chrome://extensions
```

You can install new extensions via the [Chrome web store](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions?hl=en "Chrome Store").

**Firefox**

You can find add-ons for Firefox in the [Mozilla store](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ "Mozilla Store").

You can look at your installed add-ons by typing the following into the address bar:

```none
about:addons
```

**Opera**

Opera also calls its add-ons “extensions”, and you can find them in the [add-ons store](https://addons.opera.com/en/extensions/ "Extensions – Opera Add-ons")

**Microsoft Edge**

You can also find the add-ons for Microsoft Edge in the [add-on store](https://microsoftedge.microsoft.com/addons/Microsoft-Edge-Extensions-Home "Microsoft Edge Extensions").

**Safari (Mac)**

To find suitable extensions for Safari, you should go to *Safari > Safari Extensions* in the browser menu.

## What’s the difference between an add-on and a plug-in?

Strictly speaking, add-ons are a subtype of [plug-ins](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/server/know-how/what-is-a-plug-in/), which are small programs that give extra features to the main program.

For **browsers**, however, a key difference exists between add-ons and plug-ins: plug-ins are *compiled* programs (executables) that are linked to the browser using an interface. Well-known examples of this are Adobe Flash Player or the Java plug-in. Many browsers provide support for plug-ins and will only allow add-ons or extensions to run if they work with [standardized interfaces (APIs)](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-an-api/) and were programmed using strict, pre-defined standards and safety rules.


This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-an-add-on/](https://www.ionos.com/digitalguide/websites/web-development/what-is-an-add-on/) for AI/LLM consumption.