The WordPress.org Plugin Directory is the official catalog of free plugins for WordPress, a content management system (software for building and editing websites). A plugin is an add-on that extends what a WordPress site can do. The directory lists over 77,000 free plugins, each with its ratings, its number of active installations and the WordPress version it was tested with.
The directory is a hosting site, not a listing site. A developer signs up for a WordPress.org account and submits a plugin, and the Plugin Review Team reviews it manually. After approval the developer gets a Subversion (SVN) repository, a version control system that stores the code; the plugin appears in the directory shortly after the code and a readme.txt file are uploaded. Each hosted plugin gets download statistics, user reviews and a free support forum.
Hosting a plugin is free. Every plugin must be compatible with the GNU General Public License v2 or later, and its built-in features must not sit behind license gates, paywalls or time-limited trials.