Joomla can seem more confusing than it is due to the jargon used to describe different aspects of it. We take a look at some of those below, and give you a brief understanding of how they fit into your website structure.

Components

Joomla components are not part of the basic installation package that you download. They are applications that provide extra functionality for webmasters. Even though they are ‘add-ons’, they are designed specifically for Joomla, and thus integrate with Joomla’s base code - unlike a separate program.

Some examples include VirtueMart, a shopping cart; events calendars and managers like EventCal, which are great for community, church, and school sites; MambWeather, and WeatherStation, which are two weather components that can be very useful for recreational and sporting sites; media galleries such as Zoom Media and Expose Flash; and forum components such as SMF.

Components are usually accessed through the ‘components’ menu in the administration area when you need to configure it, such as just after installation. When you want to work with the features of the component, you access it through the main area in your admin. Some components may have a module you also need to install.

Modules

Whereas components are applications that run specific, and often complex tasks, modules are used to present some form of content in the website to visitors. They are displayed in a small section on the part of the site that is visible to the public. They can include the menu bars visitors use to navigate through your site, polls, hit counters, and search boxes - amongst other things. Modules are third-party addons, and there are many out there.

Joomla Mambots

Mambots have many names! They are also called mosbots, and from Joomla version 1.5 onwards, they are known as plugins.

Mambots interface between the front end of the site, and your content. They are actually small programs, and are run automatically once installed.

Their functions vary - some are involved in formatting content, and work by replacing special tokens that are inserted in the text when it is created. Some let you publish images in your content. Others determine which content can be visible to a member of the public depending on what level of access they have. This is especially useful for people running tiered membership sites.