Many of the more advanced features of WordPress require a plugin. A plugin is an added piece of software that adds new features and functionality to your site. There are many, many plugins covering a very wide range of features.
Once you have identified the feature that you want to add, or the name of the plugin that you want, go to your WordPress dashboard. Click on Plugins, and you will then see a list of your installed plugins. To add a new plugin, click on the Add New button. You now have access to the universe of plugins, and you can explore the Featured, Popular, Recommended or Favorites. To search by keyword, use the search box in the upper right, or explore the tags at the bottom of the page. When so many available, it is sometimes difficult to choose which plugin to use. It is recommended to use ones that are compatible with your WordPress installation, recently updated, and used by many other users.
To install a plugin, click on the Install Now button next to the name. This will install it for this site, and to activate the plugin, click on Activate. Note that it is a two-step process to make a plugin function – install followed by activate. Also note that you if want the same plugin on multiple WordPress site, you will need to install it multiple times.
Once you have the plugin installed, you might see additional commands available in the Dashboard or visual editor. Explore the ‘More Details’ button next to the plugin name on the Add Plugins screen for information about how to use the plugin.