The authentication plugins operate when users login to your site or administrator. The Joomla! authentication is in operation by default but you can enable Gmail or LDAP or install a plugin for a different system. An example is included that may be used to create a new authentication plugin.Default on:JoomlaDefault off:GmailLDAP

System plugins operate every time a page on your site loads. They control such things as your URLS, whether users can check a "remember me" box on the login module, and whether caching is enabled.  New in 1.6 is the redirect plugin that with the redirect component assist you in managing changes in URLs.Default on:Remember me HelpSEF HelpDebug HelpDefault off:Cache HelpLog HelpRedirect Help

Editors are used thoughout Joomla! where content is created. TinyMCE is the default choice in most locations although CodeMirror is used in the template manager. No Editor provides a text box for html content.Default on:CodeMirror HelpTinyMCE HelpNo Editor HelpDefault off:None

Default on:Joomla HelpDefault off:Two new plugins are available in 1.6 but are disabled by default.Contact Creator HelpCreates a new linked contact record for each new user created. Profile HelpThis example profile plugin allows you to insert additional fields into user registration and profile display. This is intended as an example of the types of extensions to the profile you might want to create.

These plugins are behind the buttons found beneath your editor. They only run when an editor plugin runs.Default on:Editor Button: ImageEditor Button: ReadmoreEditor Button: Page BreakEditor Button: ArticleDefault off:None

Content plugins run when specific kinds of pages are loaded. They do things ranging from protecting email addresses from harvesters to creating page breaks.Default on:Email Cloaking HelpLoad Module HelpPage Break HelpPage Navigation HelpRating HelpDefault off:Code Highlighting (Geshi) Help

The search component uses plugins to control which parts of your Joomla! site are searched. You may choose to turn off some areas to improve performance or for other reasons. Many third party Joomla! extensions have search plugins that extend where search takes place.Default On:Content HelpContacts HelpWeblinks HelpNews Feeds HelpCategories Help