The Golden Rules of WordPress Plugins: What to Do & What to Ditch
The Essential Rules for Managing WordPress Plugins — Best Practices & What to Avoid WordPress powers a significant portion of the web — and a large part of its flexibility comes from plugins. Plugins enable even non-developers to add rich functionality: eCommerce via WooCommerce, learning management systems, booking tools, contact forms, SEO tools, and more. However, plugins — when used improperly — also bring risks: performance degradation, conflicts, security vulnerabilities, and even site crashes. Hence, to preserve speed, stability, and security, it's vital to follow a set of “ golden rules ” when installing, managing, and maintaining WordPress plugins. ✅ What You Should Do When Using Plugins 1. Choose Trusted, Well-Maintained Plugins Always install plugins from reliable sources — ideally the official WordPress repository — or purchase only from reputable developers. Before installing, check that the plugin has recent updates, is compatible with your Wo...