Can someone answer a question what are plugins and what do they do so i can watch tv on line?

In computing, a plug-in (or plugin, add-in, addin, add-on, addon, or extension) is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program. When a program supports plug-ins, it enables customization. The common examples are the plug-ins used in web browsers to add new features such as search-engines, virus scanners, or the ability to use a new file type such as a new video format. Well-known browser plug-ins include the Adobe Flash Player, the QuickTime Player, and the Java plug-in, which can launch a user-activated Java applet on a web page to its execution on a local Java virtual machine.

A theme or skin is a preset package containing additional or changed graphical appearance details, achieved by the use of a graphical user interface (GUI) that can be applied to specific software and websites to suit the purpose, topic, or tastes of different users to customize the look and feel of a piece of computer software or an operating system front-end GUI (and window managers).

Purpose and examples

Applications support plug-ins for many reasons. Some of the main reasons include:

to enable third-party developers to create abilities which extend an application

to support easily adding new features

to reduce the size of an application

to separate source code from an application because of incompatible software licenses.

Types of applications and why they use plug-ins:

Audio editors use plug-ins to generate, process or analyse sound. Ardour and Audacity are examples of such editors.

Email clients use plug-ins to decrypt and encrypt email. Pretty Good Privacy is an example of such plug-ins.

Graphics software use plug-ins to support file formats and process images. (c.f. Photoshop plugin)

Media players use plug-ins to support file formats and apply filters. foobar2000, GStreamer, Quintessential, VST, Winamp, XMMS are examples of such media players.

Packet sniffers use plug-ins to decode packet formats. OmniPeek is an example of such packet sniffers.

Remote sensing applications use plug-ins to process data from different sensor types; e.g., Opticks.

Text editors and Integrated development environments use plug-ins to support programming languages or enhance development process e.g., Visual Studio, RAD Studio, Eclipse, jEdit and MonoDevelop support plug-ins. Visual Studio itself can be plugged into other applications via Visual Studio Tools for Office and Visual Studio Tools for Applications.

Web browsers use browser extensions to expand their functionality. Examples include Adobe Flash Player, Java SE, QuickTime, Microsoft Silverlight, 3DMLW and Unity.