# Introduction

Netscape plug-ins extend Netscape Navigator to include a wide range of interactive and multimedia capabilities. Plug-ins are software modules that are seamlessly integrated into Navigator, appearing simply as supplemental capabilities. By accessing and implementing plug-ins, Netscape Navigator becomes your platform for the Internet.

Plug-ins offer a rich variety of functions and features to enhance and increase the functionality and compatibility of Navigator. Plug-ins have been used as:

- Multimedia Viewers, such as Live3D, Macromedia Shockwave, and Adobe Acrobat
- Utilities, such as object embedding and compression/decompression
- Applications, such as personal information managers and games

The utilization of plug-in technology is constantly expanding beyond current applications, as demonstrated by the growing list of independent software vendors who are creating new and innovative plug-ins.

Plug-ins can be installed by running a setup program supplied with the plug-in. Plug-ins reside on the local hard drive and are detected by Navigator when it starts up. When Navigator encounters data handled by a plug-in (either embedded in an HTML page or in a separate file), it loads the appropriate plug-in and gives it access to all or a part of a window. The plug-in remains active until the associated page or file is closed.