Jump to content

Add-on (Mozilla): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Updated to reflect Adobe Flash discontinuation
add logo
 
(29 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Software modules to extend Firefox web browsers}}
{{Short description|Software modules to extend Firefox web browsers}}
{{Firefox TOC}}
'''Add-on''' is the [[Mozilla]] term for [[software]] modules that can be added to the [[Firefox]] [[web browser]] and related [[application software|applications]]. There are three types: [[browser extension|extensions]], [[Theme (computing)|themes]], and [[Plug-in (computing)|plug-ins]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Add-ons|url = https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons|website = Mozilla Developer Network|access-date = 2016-01-21}}</ref> Mozilla hosts them on its official add-on [[website]].<ref name="official-site">{{cite web |title=Official Add-on website |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/ |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref>
'''Add-on''' is the [[Mozilla]] term for [[software]] modules that can be added to the [[Firefox]] [[web browser]] and related [[application software|applications]]. Mozilla hosts them on its official add-on [[website]].<ref name="official-site">{{cite web |title=Official Add-on website |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/ |access-date=10 February 2019 |publisher=Mozilla}}</ref>


In 2017, Mozilla enacted major changes to the [[application programming interface]] (API) for extensions in Firefox, replacing the long-standing [[XUL]] and [[XPCOM]] APIs with the [[WebExtensions API]] that is modeled after [[Google Chrome]]'s API.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2015/08/21/the-future-of-developing-firefox-add-ons/|title=The Future of Developing Firefox Add-ons|website=Mozilla Add-ons Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref name="57plan">{{Cite web|url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2017/08/10/upcoming-changes-compatibility/|title=Upcoming Changes in Compatibility Features|website=Mozilla Add-ons Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref name="legacy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2017/08/12/how-to-enable-legacy-extensions-in-firefox-57/|title=How to enable legacy extensions in Firefox 57 - gHacks Tech News|website=www.ghacks.net|access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> Thus Firefox extensions are now largely compatible with their Chrome counterparts.<ref>{{cite web |title=Porting a Google Chrome extension |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Porting_a_Google_Chrome_extension |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref> At the same time, plug-ins were [[Deprecation|deprecated]], with the exception of the [[Adobe Flash Player]].<ref name="mozillasupport-npapi-deprecated">{{Cite news|url=https://support.mozilla.org/t5/Problems-with-add-ons-plugins-or/Why-do-Java-Silverlight-Adobe-Acrobat-and-other-plugins-no/ta-p/31069|title=Why do Java, Silverlight, Adobe Acrobat and other plugins no longer work?|date=2017-01-30|access-date=2017-03-17|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307050159/https://support.mozilla.org/t5/Problems-with-add-ons-plugins-or/Why-do-Java-Silverlight-Adobe-Acrobat-and-other-plugins-no/ta-p/31069|archive-date=2017-03-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> (However, applications built with the [[Pale_Moon_(web_browser)#UXP|UXP]] [[software fork|fork]] of Firefox retain the legacy add-on capabilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=There is only XUL |url=http://thereisonlyxul.org|access-date=10 June 2020}}</ref>)
[[Browser extension]]s are the primary type of add-on. In 2017, Mozilla enacted major changes to the [[application programming interface]] (API) for extensions in Firefox, replacing the long-standing [[XUL]] and [[XPCOM]] APIs with the [[WebExtensions API]] that is modeled after [[Google Chrome]]'s API.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2015/08/21/the-future-of-developing-firefox-add-ons/|title=The Future of Developing Firefox Add-ons|website=Mozilla Add-ons Blog|date=21 August 2015 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref name="57plan">{{Cite web|url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2017/08/10/upcoming-changes-compatibility/|title=Upcoming Changes in Compatibility Features|website=Mozilla Add-ons Blog|date=10 August 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-15}}</ref><ref name="legacy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.ghacks.net/2017/08/12/how-to-enable-legacy-extensions-in-firefox-57/|title=How to enable legacy extensions in Firefox 57 - gHacks Tech News|website=www.ghacks.net|date=12 August 2017 |access-date=2018-12-14}}</ref> Thus add-ons that remain compatible with Firefox are now largely compatible with Chrome as well.<ref>{{cite web |title=Porting a Google Chrome extension |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Porting_a_Google_Chrome_extension |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=30 December 2018}}</ref> As of January, 2024, there are more than 36,000 add-ons and over 495,000 themes available for Firefox.<ref>{{cite web |title=Search results (Extensions) – Add-ons for Firefox (en-US) |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search/?type=extension |website=addons.mozilla.org |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Search results (Themes) – Add-ons for Firefox (en-US) |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search/?type=statictheme |website=addons.mozilla.org |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=28 January 2024}}</ref>


==Types of add-ons==
==Current add-ons==


===Extensions===
===Extensions===

⚫
Prior to 2017, [[Firefox]] supported [[browser extension|extensions]] developed with different APIs: [[XUL]], [[XPCOM]], and [[Mozilla Jetpack|Jetpack]].<ref>[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/Overlay_Extensions/Firefox_addons_developer_guide/Technologies_used_in_developing_extensions Chapter 2: Technologies used in developing extensions - Firefox addons developer guide | MDN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005134018/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/Overlay_Extensions/Firefox_addons_developer_guide/Technologies_used_in_developing_extensions |date=2016-10-05 }}. Developer.mozilla.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.</ref> [[Mozilla]] now refers to these as legacy extensions.<ref name="legacy"/> Starting with Firefox 57, only the new [[WebExtensions API]] is supported.<ref name="57plan"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Browser extensions |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions |website=MDN |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref>
====WebExtensions====
Starting with Firefox 57, only the new [[WebExtensions API]] is supported.<ref name="57plan"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Browser extensions |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions |website=MDN |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref>


===Themes===
===Themes===
Early versions of Firefox supported [[Theme (computing)|themes]] that could greatly change the appearance of the browser, but this was scaled back over time. Current themes are limited to changing the background and text color of toolbars.<ref>{{cite web |title=Themes for Firefox |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/themes/}}</ref> (These lightweight themes were formerly called personas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Personas are now Firefox Themes |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/personas-are-now-firefox-themes/}}</ref>)
Early versions of Firefox supported [[Theme (computing)|themes]] that could greatly change the appearance of the browser, but this was scaled back over time. Current themes are limited to changing the background and text color of toolbars.<ref>{{cite web |title=Themes for Firefox |url=https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/themes/}}</ref> (These lightweight themes were formerly called personas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Personas are now Firefox Themes |url=https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/personas-are-now-firefox-themes/}}</ref>)


===Plug-ins===
==Historical add-ons==

⚫
[[Plug-in (computing)|Plug-ins]] are used to handle [[media type]]s for which the application does not have built-in capability. They are third-party [[executable]]s that interface via [[NPAPI]]. But plug-ins are now [[deprecation|deprecated]], due to security concerns and improvements in [[Web API]]s.<ref>{{cite web | first=Benjamin | last=Smedberg | url=https://blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2015/10/08/npapi-plugins-in-firefox/ | title=NPAPI Plugins in Firefox | work=Future Releases | publisher=[[Mozilla Foundation]] | date=8 October 2015}}</ref> The last plug-that was officially supported by Firefox was [[Adobe Flash Player]],<ref name="mozillasupport-npapi-deprecated"/> which Adobe discontinued in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/25/get-ready-to-say-goodbye-to-flash-in-2020/|title=Get ready to finally say goodbye to Flash — in 2020|last=Lardinois|first=Frederic|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2017-07-25}}</ref>
=== Extensions ===

==== Legacy extensions ====
⚫
Prior to 2017, [[Firefox]] supported [[browser extension|extensions]] developed with different APIs: [[XUL]], [[XPCOM]], and [[Mozilla Jetpack|Jetpack]].<ref>[https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/Overlay_Extensions/Firefox_addons_developer_guide/Technologies_used_in_developing_extensions Chapter 2: Technologies used in developing extensions - Firefox addons developer guide | MDN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005134018/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/Overlay_Extensions/Firefox_addons_developer_guide/Technologies_used_in_developing_extensions |date=2016-10-05 }}. Developer.mozilla.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.</ref> [[Mozilla]] now refers to these as legacy extensions.<ref name="legacy"/>

=== Plug-ins ===
⚫
[[Plug-in (computing)|Plug-ins]] are no longer supported in Firefox. In the past, they were used to handle [[media type]]s for which the application did not have built-in capability. They were [[deprecation|deprecated]] due to security concerns and improvements in [[Web API]]s.<ref>{{cite web | first=Benjamin | last=Smedberg | url=https://blog.mozilla.org/futurereleases/2015/10/08/npapi-plugins-in-firefox/ | title=NPAPI Plugins in Firefox | work=Future Releases | publisher=[[Mozilla Foundation]] | date=8 October 2015}}</ref> The last one that was officially supported was [[Adobe Flash Player]], which Adobe discontinued in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/25/get-ready-to-say-goodbye-to-flash-in-2020/|title=Get ready to finally say goodbye to Flash — in 2020|last=Lardinois|first=Frederic|work=TechCrunch|date=25 July 2017 |access-date=2017-07-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=End of support for Adobe Flash |url=https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/end-support-adobe-flash |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=9 April 2021}}</ref>


==Restrictions==
==Restrictions==
[[Mozilla]] had no mechanism to restrict the privileges of legacy [[Firefox]] extensions. This meant that a legacy extension could read or modify the data used by another extension or any file accessible to the user running Mozilla applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelligentexploit.com/articles/Abusing,-Exploiting-and-Pwning-with-Firefox-Add-ons.pdf|title=Abusing, Exploiting and Pwning with Firefox Add-ons|access-date=2013-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305163019/http://www.intelligentexploit.com/articles/Abusing,-Exploiting-and-Pwning-with-Firefox-Add-ons.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> But the current WebExtensions API imposes many restrictions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Security Best Practices |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Security_best_practices |website=MDN |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref>
[[Mozilla]] had no mechanism to restrict the privileges of legacy [[Firefox]] extensions. This meant that a legacy extension could read or modify the data used by another extension or any file accessible to the user running Mozilla applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelligentexploit.com/articles/Abusing,-Exploiting-and-Pwning-with-Firefox-Add-ons.pdf|title=Abusing, Exploiting and Pwning with Firefox Add-ons|access-date=2013-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305163019/http://www.intelligentexploit.com/articles/Abusing,-Exploiting-and-Pwning-with-Firefox-Add-ons.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> But the current WebExtensions API imposes many restrictions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Security Best Practices |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions/Security_best_practices |website=MDN |publisher=Mozilla |access-date=10 February 2019}}</ref>


Starting with Firefox 40, Mozilla began to roll out a requirement for extension signing.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fisher|first1=Dennis|title=Firefox 40 Begins Warning Users About Unsigned Add-Ons|url=https://threatpost.com/firefox-40-begins-warning-users-about-unsigned-add-ons/114237|website=Threatpost|access-date=20 August 2015}}</ref> It is now required in all official Firefox releases.<ref>{{cite web|title=Extension Signing|url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/Add-ons/Extension_Signing|website=Mozilla.org Wiki|publisher=Mozilla|access-date=20 August 2015}}</ref>
Starting with Firefox 40, Mozilla began to roll out a requirement for extension signing.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fisher|first1=Dennis|title=Firefox 40 Begins Warning Users About Unsigned Add-Ons|url=https://threatpost.com/firefox-40-begins-warning-users-about-unsigned-add-ons/114237|website=Threatpost|date=12 August 2015 |access-date=20 August 2015}}</ref> It is now required in all official Firefox releases.<ref>{{cite web|title=Extension Signing|url=https://wiki.mozilla.org/Add-ons/Extension_Signing|website=Mozilla.org Wiki|publisher=Mozilla|access-date=20 August 2015}}</ref>


==Website==
==Website==
{{Infobox website
{{Infobox website
| name = Add-ons for Firefox
| name = Add-ons for Firefox
| logo =
| logo = Firefox Browser Add-ons logo.svg
| url = {{URL|https://addons.mozilla.org}}
| url = {{URL|https://addons.mozilla.org}}
| commercial = No
| commercial = No
| type = Hosts add-ons
| type = Hosts add-ons
| language =
| language =
| registration = Free; only needed for developers or for special features
| registration = Free; only needed for developers or for special features
| owner = [[Mozilla Foundation]]
| owner = [[Mozilla Foundation]]
| launch_date =
| launch_date =
| current_status = Active
| current_status = Active
}}
}}
The [[Mozilla]] add-ons website is the official repository for [[Firefox]] add-ons.<ref name="official-site"/> In contrast to [[mozdev.org]] which provides free hosting for Mozilla-related projects, the add-ons site is tailored for [[user (computing)|users]]. By default, Firefox automatically checks the site for updates to installed add-ons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/Updates|title=Updates|website=Mozilla Developer Network|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-28}}</ref>
The [[Mozilla]] add-ons website is the official repository for [[Firefox]] add-ons.<ref name="official-site"/> In contrast to [[mozdev.org]] which provides free hosting for Mozilla-related projects, the add-ons site is tailored for [[user (computing)|users]]. By default, Firefox automatically checks the site for updates to installed add-ons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/Updates|title=Updates|website=Mozilla Developer Network|language=en-US|access-date=2017-10-28}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 00:24, 29 April 2024

Related articles
Origins and lineage
Category

Add-on is the Mozilla term for software modules that can be added to the Firefox web browser and related applications. Mozilla hosts them on its official add-on website.[1]

Browser extensions are the primary type of add-on. In 2017, Mozilla enacted major changes to the application programming interface (API) for extensions in Firefox, replacing the long-standing XUL and XPCOM APIs with the WebExtensions API that is modeled after Google Chrome's API.[2][3][4] Thus add-ons that remain compatible with Firefox are now largely compatible with Chrome as well.[5] As of January, 2024, there are more than 36,000 add-ons and over 495,000 themes available for Firefox.[6][7]

Current add-ons[edit]

Extensions[edit]

WebExtensions[edit]

Starting with Firefox 57, only the new WebExtensions API is supported.[3][8]

Themes[edit]

Early versions of Firefox supported themes that could greatly change the appearance of the browser, but this was scaled back over time. Current themes are limited to changing the background and text color of toolbars.[9] (These lightweight themes were formerly called personas.[10])

Historical add-ons[edit]

Extensions[edit]

Legacy extensions[edit]

Prior to 2017, Firefox supported extensions developed with different APIs: XUL, XPCOM, and Jetpack.[11] Mozilla now refers to these as legacy extensions.[4]

Plug-ins[edit]

Plug-ins are no longer supported in Firefox. In the past, they were used to handle media types for which the application did not have built-in capability. They were deprecated due to security concerns and improvements in Web APIs.[12] The last one that was officially supported was Adobe Flash Player, which Adobe discontinued in 2020.[13][14]

Restrictions[edit]

Mozilla had no mechanism to restrict the privileges of legacy Firefox extensions. This meant that a legacy extension could read or modify the data used by another extension or any file accessible to the user running Mozilla applications.[15] But the current WebExtensions API imposes many restrictions.[16]

Starting with Firefox 40, Mozilla began to roll out a requirement for extension signing.[17] It is now required in all official Firefox releases.[18]

Website[edit]

Add-ons for Firefox
Type of site
Hosts add-ons
OwnerMozilla Foundation
URLaddons.mozilla.org
CommercialNo
RegistrationFree; only needed for developers or for special features
Current statusActive

The Mozilla add-ons website is the official repository for Firefox add-ons.[1] In contrast to mozdev.org which provides free hosting for Mozilla-related projects, the add-ons site is tailored for users. By default, Firefox automatically checks the site for updates to installed add-ons.[19]

In January 2008, Mozilla announced that the site had accumulated a total of 600 million add-on downloads and that over 100 million installed add-ons automatically check the site for updates every day.[20] In July 2012, the total had increased to 3 billion downloads from the site.[21]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Official Add-on website". Mozilla. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  2. ^ "The Future of Developing Firefox Add-ons". Mozilla Add-ons Blog. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  3. ^ a b "Upcoming Changes in Compatibility Features". Mozilla Add-ons Blog. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-12-15.
  4. ^ a b "How to enable legacy extensions in Firefox 57 - gHacks Tech News". www.ghacks.net. 12 August 2017. Retrieved 2018-12-14.
  5. ^ "Porting a Google Chrome extension". Mozilla. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Search results (Extensions) – Add-ons for Firefox (en-US)". addons.mozilla.org. Mozilla. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Search results (Themes) – Add-ons for Firefox (en-US)". addons.mozilla.org. Mozilla. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Browser extensions". MDN. Mozilla. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  9. ^ "Themes for Firefox".
  10. ^ "Personas are now Firefox Themes".
  11. ^ Chapter 2: Technologies used in developing extensions - Firefox addons developer guide | MDN Archived 2016-10-05 at the Wayback Machine. Developer.mozilla.org. Retrieved on 2013-07-21.
  12. ^ Smedberg, Benjamin (8 October 2015). "NPAPI Plugins in Firefox". Future Releases. Mozilla Foundation.
  13. ^ Lardinois, Frederic (25 July 2017). "Get ready to finally say goodbye to Flash — in 2020". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  14. ^ "End of support for Adobe Flash". Mozilla. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Abusing, Exploiting and Pwning with Firefox Add-ons" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2013-10-23.
  16. ^ "Security Best Practices". MDN. Mozilla. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  17. ^ Fisher, Dennis (12 August 2015). "Firefox 40 Begins Warning Users About Unsigned Add-Ons". Threatpost. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  18. ^ "Extension Signing". Mozilla.org Wiki. Mozilla. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  19. ^ "Updates". Mozilla Developer Network. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
  20. ^ Scott, Justin (30 January 2008). "600,000,000 Add-on Downloads". Blog of Metrics. Mozilla Foundation.
  21. ^ "Firefox Add-ons Cross More Than 3 Billion Downloads!". The Mozilla blog. Retrieved 1 November 2013.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Add-on_(Mozilla)&oldid=1221284757"