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Going Linux
Practical Information for Using Linux To Get Things Done
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 Installing Linux Browser Plug-Ins

Browser plug-ins are a little like extensions, in that they add functionality to the browser -- but for the most part, they are really just programs that run within the browser. Plug-ins provide features such as the ability to display a PDF file, play an audio file, play a flash movie, and more -- all from within the browser window.

Some of the most common plug-ins for Web browsing, that the average user will want to install, include a the Java plug-in, Flash player, Shockwave player, and the PDF viewer. 

If you are lucky, your Linux distribution will have these plug-ins either pre-installed (not likely) or at least available in their repositories. If the plug-in you want is available from your distribution's software repositories, our article on Installing Linux Packages From Repositories. You can search the repository by the name of the plug-in, if you know it, or by a key word.

Installing a plug-in from a repository for your distribution is definitely the preferred method. Unlike the various shareware websites for Windows add-ons, software repositories for Linux are managed, maintained and updated by the Linux distribution, and contain almost ALL of the full-featured, free and open source software, that has been tested for installation on that particular distribution.

If the plug-in you want is not available from your distributions's repositories, you are not out of luck. You can install many plug-ins using the instructions provided by the software developer. Carefully follow the installation instructions for Linux provided on the software developer's website. That may involve (and usually does, unfortunately) some command-line stuff. But once your browser is setup with the plug-ins you need, you will rarely have to look back at this again.

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