# About plugins

Plugins are .war files that allow you to add functionality to the Discovery Framework. In the Liferay Portal, portlets, themes, and layout templates are all considered plugins.

Because plugins are separate from the core application, they can be developed and deployed without disrupting application performance.

## Creating plugins with the Component SDK

The Discovery Framework provides component developers with a Component SDK that they can use to modify or create portlet components. These tasks are not usually done by power users. For more information about the Component SDK, see the Discovery Framework Extension Guide.