What is a Joomla! Extension?

Joomla! Help Support Warrington Cheshire Manchester Merseyside UKAn extension is a software package that increases what you can do with your Joomla! website.

A number of core extensions are included with the default Joomla! CMS but you will find thousands more 3rd party extensions in the Joomla! Extensions Directory.

Need help?

If you need help and support using Joomla! then do get in touch.

We provide Joomla! coaching, help and support for business managers and organisations across Cheshire, Manchester, Merseyside, North West England & the UK.

Contact Customer Support on 0161 818 8228.

 

The full range of Joomla! Extensions

Extension refers to any component, package, plugin, module, template, language, library or other application used by the Joomla! CMS.

The three Extension types you will probably use most are:

Core & 3rd Party Extensions

The Joomla! CMS already contains a number of important pre-installed Core extensions.

You can add other extensions yourself. These are 3rd Party extensions.

The JCE Content Editor component and plugins are good examples of 3rd party extensions.

Here is a list of some important Core Joomla! Extensions.

Click on the links to learn more about working with each type.

Banners Component.

Media Component.

Contacts Component.

Redirects Component.

Web Links Component

Note: The Web Links Component is now decoupled from the Core Joomla! CMS.

Read more: What are Core Supported Extensions.

You can view the vast range of 3rd party extensions created by developers in the Joomla! Extensions Directory.

Visit: Joomla! Extensions Directory.

Extension Management

 

Contents include:

How to install an Extension
How to uninstall an Extension
How to update an Extension.

 

Make Joomla! CMS Security your #1 Priority

Joomla! Help Support Warrington Cheshire Manchester Merseyside UKWe offer Joomla! coaching, help and support to businesses and organisations across Cheshire, Manchester, Merseyside, North West England & the UK.

Learn how to manage Joomla! website security.

 


How to install an Extension

The Joomla! CMS includes lots of Core Extensions.

Here we focus on 3rd Party Extensions.

These are Extensions created by 3rd party developers.

The installation process is the same for 3rd Party Components, Plugins and Modules.

They are all types of extension.

Select Extensions from the Install Panel in the System Dashboard.

extensions install

Browse your device for the extension installation file (usually ZIP format) and drag it from your device to the Upload and Install Panel.

extensions install upload

Note: there are other ways to install 3rd party extensions.

Read more: Installer Plugins.

Protect your website when using 3rd Party Extensions

Take the following steps to protect your website when installing and uninstalling extensions.

  1. Back up your website before installing an extension.
  2. Check for vulnerabilities on the Joomla! Vulnerable Extensions List.
  3. Only download extensions from trusted sites.
  4. Test an extension on a development site before installing on your live site.
  5. Next test an extension on your live site (you may wish to check logs for runtime errors and warnings).
  6. Remove any junk files from the tmp directory following installation of an extension.
  7. After uninstalling an extension, check that all related folders, files and database tables were removed by uninstall scripts.1
  8. Periodically check for new releases and update installed extensions.
  9. Check with the third party developer that there are no restrictions relating to use of their extension.

Note

1 All folders, files and database tables left behind following uninstallation of an extension pose a potential security risk.

 


How to uninstall an Extension

The Joomla! CMS will not let you uninstall Core Extensions.

They are locked.

You can of course uninstall 3rd Party Extensions.

The process is the same for all 3rd Party Extensions (Components, Plugins and Modules).

Before you attempt to uninstall any Extension, first check to see if it is part of a Package.

Extension developers often bundle Components, Plugins and Modules into a Package.

If you uninstall just one Extension belonging to a Package then problems may later arise.

Instead, uninstall the whole Package.

When you uninstall the Package, then its constituent parts will also be uninstalled (without you having to select them).

Of course, if an Extension is not part of a Package then you can safely uninstall it.

But you still have to be careful because there may still be other related extensions which also need to be uninstalled.

How to identify whether a Package exists

The easiest way to identify if a Package exists is to use the filters at the top of the Manage Extensions screen.

See image below.

extensions manager package filter

Once identified, you can select the check box next to the Package and then the uninstall button.

The Package and its constituent parts will be removed.

The following illustration shows how to uninstall an Extension which is not part of a Package.

Select Extensions from the Manage Panel in the System Dashboard.

extensions manage

In the Manage Extensions screen, select the check-box next to an extension and then the Uninstall button.

The image below shows a Module about to be uninstalled.

extensions uninstall

After you have uninstalled an extension

Check that no database tables have been left behind by the uninstallation script.

Also check that no directories and files have been left behind.

If database tables and files have been left behind then they pose a security risk.


How to update an Extension

Check the Extensions Update Button in the Notifications panel of the Home Dashboard every time you sign in.

See image below.

update joomla check 1

If installed Extensions are all up to date then the button will be clearly labelled:

  • Extensions are up to date

as shown in the image above.

If the button indicates that updates are available, click the button and follow the on-screen instructions.

We cover this topic in more detail in our separate article - see link below.

Important: always perform a full back up of your website before updating Extensions.

Read more: How to update 3rd Party Extensions.

Read more: How to back up your Joomla! CMS.

What is a Joomla! Extension?

Joomla! Help Support Warrington Cheshire Manchester Merseyside UKAn extension is a software package that increases what you can do with your Joomla! website.

A number of core extensions are included with the default Joomla! CMS but you will find thousands more 3rd party extensions in the Joomla! Extensions Directory.

Need help?

If you need help and support using Joomla! then do get in touch.

We provide Joomla! coaching, help and support for business managers and organisations across Cheshire, Manchester, Merseyside, North West England & the UK.

Contact Customer Support on 0161 818 8228.

 

The full range of Joomla! Extensions

Extension refers to any component, package, plugin, module, template, language, library or other application used by the Joomla! CMS.

The three Extension types you will probably use most are:

Core & 3rd Party Extensions

The Joomla! CMS already contains a number of important pre-installed Core extensions.

You can add other extensions yourself. These are 3rd Party extensions.

The JCE Content Editor component and plugins are good examples of 3rd party extensions.

Here is a list of some important Core Joomla! Extensions.

Click on the links to learn more about working with each type.

Banners Component.

Media Component.

Contacts Component.

Redirects Component.

Web Links Component

Note: The Web Links Component is now decoupled from the Core Joomla! CMS.

Read more: What are Core Supported Extensions.

You can view the vast range of 3rd party extensions created by developers in the Joomla! Extensions Directory.

Visit: Joomla! Extensions Directory.

Extension Management

 

Contents include:

How to install an Extension
How to uninstall an Extension
How to update an Extension.

 

Make Joomla! CMS Security your #1 Priority

Joomla! Help Support Warrington Cheshire Manchester Merseyside UKWe offer Joomla! coaching, help and support to businesses and organisations across Cheshire, Manchester, Merseyside, North West England & the UK.

Learn how to manage Joomla! website security.

 


How to install an Extension

The Joomla! CMS includes lots of Core Extensions.

Here we focus on 3rd Party Extensions.

These are Extensions created by 3rd party developers.

The installation process is the same for 3rd Party Components, Plugins and Modules.

They are all types of extension.

Select Extensions from the Install Panel in the System Dashboard.

extensions install

Browse your device for the extension installation file (usually ZIP format) and drag it from your device to the Upload and Install Panel.

extensions install upload

Note: there are other ways to install 3rd party extensions.

Read more: Installer Plugins.

Protect your website when using 3rd Party Extensions

Take the following steps to protect your website when installing and uninstalling extensions.

  1. Back up your website before installing an extension.
  2. Check for vulnerabilities on the Joomla! Vulnerable Extensions List.
  3. Only download extensions from trusted sites.
  4. Test an extension on a development site before installing on your live site.
  5. Next test an extension on your live site (you may wish to check logs for runtime errors and warnings).
  6. Remove any junk files from the tmp directory following installation of an extension.
  7. After uninstalling an extension, check that all related folders, files and database tables were removed by uninstall scripts.1
  8. Periodically check for new releases and update installed extensions.
  9. Check with the third party developer that there are no restrictions relating to use of their extension.

Note

1 All folders, files and database tables left behind following uninstallation of an extension pose a potential security risk.

 


How to uninstall an Extension

The Joomla! CMS will not let you uninstall Core Extensions.

They are locked.

You can of course uninstall 3rd Party Extensions.

The process is the same for all 3rd Party Extensions (Components, Plugins and Modules).

Before you attempt to uninstall any Extension, first check to see if it is part of a Package.

Extension developers often bundle Components, Plugins and Modules into a Package.

If you uninstall just one Extension belonging to a Package then problems may later arise.

Instead, uninstall the whole Package.

When you uninstall the Package, then its constituent parts will also be uninstalled (without you having to select them).

Of course, if an Extension is not part of a Package then you can safely uninstall it.

But you still have to be careful because there may still be other related extensions which also need to be uninstalled.

How to identify whether a Package exists

The easiest way to identify if a Package exists is to use the filters at the top of the Manage Extensions screen.

See image below.

extensions manager package filter

Once identified, you can select the check box next to the Package and then the uninstall button.

The Package and its constituent parts will be removed.

The following illustration shows how to uninstall an Extension which is not part of a Package.

Select Extensions from the Manage Panel in the System Dashboard.

extensions manage

In the Manage Extensions screen, select the check-box next to an extension and then the Uninstall button.

The image below shows a Module about to be uninstalled.

extensions uninstall

After you have uninstalled an extension

Check that no database tables have been left behind by the uninstallation script.

Also check that no directories and files have been left behind.

If database tables and files have been left behind then they pose a security risk.


How to update an Extension

Check the Extensions Update Button in the Notifications panel of the Home Dashboard every time you sign in.

See image below.

update joomla check 1

If installed Extensions are all up to date then the button will be clearly labelled:

  • Extensions are up to date

as shown in the image above.

If the button indicates that updates are available, click the button and follow the on-screen instructions.

We cover this topic in more detail in our separate article - see link below.

Important: always perform a full back up of your website before updating Extensions.

Read more: How to update 3rd Party Extensions.

Read more: How to back up your Joomla! CMS.