Joomla! is a open source content management system for publishing content on the internet and intranets. It is written in the PHP programming language and uses the MySQL database by default.

The Joomla package consists of many different parts, which are built to be as modular as possible, allowing extensions and integrations to be made easily. The parts includes:

• Plugin: It’s previously known as “Mambots” and it’ background extensions that extend Joomla with new functionality.

• Module: It’s a simple extensions that performs tasks such as allowing custom code like Google AdSense etc to be inserted within the base Joomla code.

• Component: It’s more comprehensive extensions that allow webmaster to perform tasks such as building a community by expanding user features, translate content, etc.

Joomla is supported by a large community (an official and many unofficial) of extension developers who make extensions available (both commercial and free) for most web development tasks from simple slideshow effects to full-featured shopping carts. The extensions include:

• Access & Security (e.g. Site Security, User Authentication)
• Administration (e.g. Admin Interface, Data Conversion)
• Ads & Affiliates (e.g. Google Ads, Amazon)
• Calendars & Events (e.g. Calendars, Events)
• Communication (e.g. Forum, Newsletter)
• Content & News (e.g. Content Statistic, RSS Syndicate)
• Core Enhancements (e.g. Cache, Menu Systems)
• Directory & Documentation (e.g. Directory, Glossary & Dictionary)
• e-Commerce (e.g. Affiliate Cart, Shopping Cart)
• Edition (e.g. Custom Code, Editor Button)
• Extension Specific Plugin (e.g. Community Builder Plugin, Fireboard Forum Plugin)
• Images & Multimedia (e.g. Audio Players & Gallery, Maps, Podcasting, Video Players)
• Intranet & Groupware (e.g. Progress, Project & Task Management)
• Languages (e.g. Automatic Translations, Multi-lingual Content)
• Miscellaneous (e.g. Mobile, Weather)
• Search & Indexing (e.g. SEO & Metadata, Site Map)
• Statistics & Financial (e.g. Charts & Graph, Site Traffic Statistics)
• Style & Design (e.g. Flash Management, Popups & iFrames)
• Tools (e.g. Design Tools, Development Tools)
• Vertical Markets (e.g. Auto & Vehicles, Real Estate)

The extensions have almost included all the features that you can see in the websites nowadays! For more details, please visit http://extensions.joomla.org/.

Since it has been around longer, there are more extensions available for Joomla 1.0 than for Joomla 1.5, although native 1.5 extensions are becoming increasingly available. Some of the older 1.0 extensions can be used with version 1.5 if it is set to legacy mode.

Key Features of Joomla! 1.5

Please click here for the details of Key Features of Joomla1.5.