'''[[Using plugins with Firefox |Plugins]]''' are small programs that can be added to browsers like Firefox to manage Internet content that Firefox is not designed to process. For example, Adobe Systems provides a plugin to manage animated content in the Flash format. This article contains descriptions of the most popular plugins that you are likely to need. For each platform, instructions are provided for where to acquire them. [[T:plugincheck]] __TOC__ = Adobe Flash Player = For animation, games, and other non-static content, the '''Flash''' format (officially known as SWF) delivers the dynamic visuals from many websites. With widespread available across many platforms, the Flash video format (FLV) has gained popularity for embedding audio and video content. To access Flash content on the web, you must install the Flash plugin. * For more information, see [[Managing the Flash plugin]]. -=Platform availability=- The Flash plugin is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux from the official [http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Adobe website]. = Windows Media Player = The '''Windows Media Player''' plugin is useful for displaying Windows Media content, which includes a variety of audio and visual formats. The Windows Media Player program is a standard component of the Windows operating system. A plugin is available for playing content through your Firefox browser. * For more information, see [[Using the Windows Media Player plugin with Firefox]]. -=Platform availability=- {for win} The Windows Media Player plugin is designed to work primarily with Windows systems. Note that there are different versions of the plugin, depending on the version of Windows that you are using: ;:{note}'''Note: Due to differences between Internet Explorer and Firefox, some kinds of media that play through the Windows Media Player in Internet Explorer will play through Quicktime in Firefox. If the content is embedded only for Internet Explorer playback, it may not play at all. For more information, see the [[Using the Windows Media Player plugin with Firefox#Differences compared to Internet Explorer|Using the Windows Media Player plugin with Firefox]] article.'''{/note} {/for} {for mac} The Windows Media Player plugin is no longer supported on the Mac platform. '''Flip4Mac''' adds Windows Media playback to Quicktime and is the officially recognized substitute. For more information, see the [[Using the Windows Media Player plugin with Firefox]] article. {/for} {for linux} The Windows Media Player plugin is not available for Linux, but '''MPlayer''' with the '''gecko-mediaplayer''' or with the '''mplayerplug-in''' allows the playback of embedded Windows media. For more information, see the [[Using the Windows Media Player plugin with Firefox]] article. {/for} = Adobe Reader = '''Adobe Reader''' is used to display of Portable Document Format (PDF) files. PDF is designed for publishing many kinds of documents. A PDF document has an identical appearance across most platforms and requires less storage space than other formats rich in graphics and features. The Adobe Reader program is a free viewer that can display the PDF format and includes a browser plugin. * For more information, see [[Using the Adobe Reader plugin with Firefox]]. -=Platform availability=- {for win,linux} Adobe Reader is available from the official [http://get.adobe.com/reader/ Adobe website]. {/for} {for mac} The Adobe Reader program is available for the Mac platform, but the included browser plugin does not work with Firefox. A third-party plugin can be used to display PDF files - see [[Using the Adobe Reader plugin with Firefox]] for details. {/for} = Quicktime = The '''Quicktime''' plugin is required for Quicktime media formats. The Quicktime plugin can also play common media formats like MPEG, WAV and MP3, which may not play back through the Windows Media Player plugin. * For more information, see [[Using the Quicktime plugin with Firefox]]. -=Platform availability=- {for win,mac} The Quicktime program is available from the official [http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/ Apple website]. {/for} {for linux} An official plugin is not available for Linux, but '''MPlayer''' with the '''gecko-mediaplayer''' or with the '''mplayerplug-in''' allows the playback of Quicktime media. {/for} = RealPlayer = The '''RealPlayer''' plugin is required for playback of Real Media formats. * For more information, see [[Using the RealPlayer plugin with Firefox]]. -=Platform availability=- RealPlayer is available from the official [http://www.real.com/realplayer/ Real website]. The browser plugin is included. = Java = '''Java''' is a programming language that enables the execution of the same program across multiple platforms without changes to the code. Many websites embed small Java applications such as games or utilities into web pages. To display Java content, you must install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), which includes a browser plugin. * For more information, see [[Using the Java plugin with Firefox]]. -=Platform availability=- {for win,linux} The Java Runtime Environment is available from the official [http://java.com Java website]. {/for} {for mac} Java is a pre-installed core component. No additional installation is required. {/for} = Shockwave = The '''Shockwave''' format is used for multimedia content like games, presentations, and learning applications. The Shockwave plugin enables playback of Shockwave content in your Firefox browser. * For more information, see [[Using the Shockwave plugin with Firefox]]. -=Platform availability=- {for win,mac} The Shockwave player is available from the official [http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/ Adobe website]. {/for} {for linux} An official plugin is not available for Linux. The [http://www.codeweavers.com/compatibility/ CrossOver Office] application for Unix platforms (including Mac and Linux) enables the use of Windows browser plugins, including the Shockwave plugin. {/for} = Silverlight = The '''Silverlight''' format is used for multimedia content like games, presentations, and videos. * For more information, see [[Using the Silverlight plugin with Firefox]]. -=Platform availability=- {for win,mac} The Silverlight plugin is available from the [http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight/ Microsoft website]. {/for} {for linux} An open source implementation of the Microsoft Silverlight plugin is available from Mono.org's [http://www.go-mono.com/moonlight/ Moonlight project page]. {/for} = VLC Media Player = The '''VLC Media Player''' is an open source multimedia player that plays most audio and video formats. It includes a plugin for playing media within your Firefox browser. -=Platform availability=- The VLC Media Player and its plugin are available from the [http://www.videolan.org VideoLAN website]. = gecko-mediaplayer = The '''gecko-mediaplayer''' is an open source plugin that allows to play most audio and video formats using '''GNOME MPlayer''' (a frontend for '''MPlayer''', an open source multimedia player). -=Platform availability=- {for linux} The gecko-mediaplayer is available from the [http://kdekorte.googlepages.com/gecko-mediaplayer project website] and from distribution repositories. {/for} {for win,mac} The plugin is not available for Mac or Windows platform. {/for}

Plugins are small programs that can be added to browsers like Firefox to manage Internet content that Firefox is not designed to process. For example, Adobe Systems provides a plugin to manage animated content in the Flash format.

This article contains descriptions of the most popular plugins that you are likely to need. For each platform, instructions are provided for where to acquire them.

Adobe Flash Player

For animation, games, and other non-static content, the Flash format (officially known as SWF) delivers the dynamic visuals from many websites. With widespread available across many platforms, the Flash video format (FLV) has gained popularity for embedding audio and video content. To access Flash content on the web, you must install the Flash plugin.

• For more information, see Flash Plugin - Keep it up to date and troubleshoot problems.

-=Platform availability=- The Flash plugin is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux from the official Adobe website.

Windows Media Player

The Windows Media Player plugin is useful for displaying Windows Media content, which includes a variety of audio and visual formats. The Windows Media Player program is a standard component of the Windows operating system. A plugin is available for playing content through your Firefox browser.

• For more information, see Play Windows Media files in Firefox with the Windows Media plugin.

-=Platform availability=-

Adobe Reader

Adobe Reader is used to display of Portable Document Format (PDF) files. PDF is designed for publishing many kinds of documents. A PDF document has an identical appearance across most platforms and requires less storage space than other formats rich in graphics and features. The Adobe Reader program is a free viewer that can display the PDF format and includes a browser plugin.

• For more information, see Use Adobe Reader to view PDF files in Firefox.

-=Platform availability=-

Quicktime

The Quicktime plugin is required for Quicktime media formats. The Quicktime plugin can also play common media formats like MPEG, WAV and MP3, which may not play back through the Windows Media Player plugin.

• For more information, see Using the Quicktime plugin with Firefox.

-=Platform availability=-

RealPlayer

The RealPlayer plugin is required for playback of Real Media formats.

• For more information, see Fix problems with RealPlayer add-ons.

-=Platform availability=- RealPlayer is available from the official Real website. The browser plugin is included.

Java

Java is a programming language that enables the execution of the same program across multiple platforms without changes to the code. Many websites embed small Java applications such as games or utilities into web pages. To display Java content, you must install the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), which includes a browser plugin.

• For more information, see Use the Java plugin to view interactive content on websites.

-=Platform availability=-

Shockwave

The Shockwave format is used for multimedia content like games, presentations, and learning applications. The Shockwave plugin enables playback of Shockwave content in your Firefox browser.

• For more information, see Using the Shockwave plugin with Firefox.

-=Platform availability=-

Silverlight

The Silverlight format is used for multimedia content like games, presentations, and videos.

• For more information, see Use the Silverlight plugin to play audio and video.

-=Platform availability=-

VLC Media Player

The VLC Media Player is an open source multimedia player that plays most audio and video formats. It includes a plugin for playing media within your Firefox browser.

-=Platform availability=- The VLC Media Player and its plugin are available from the VideoLAN website.

gecko-mediaplayer

The gecko-mediaplayer is an open source plugin that allows to play most audio and video formats using GNOME MPlayer (a frontend for MPlayer, an open source multimedia player).

-=Platform availability=-