web2py plugins are self contained pieces of an application that can be added to any existing application. They usually define components, i.e. objects that can be embedded in a page and talk to the server via ajax. Often they include corresponding jQuery plugins and the serverside funcitonality to make them work. Here you can find some examples. The web2py admin interface provides a web interface to upload and manage the plugins. The plugin themsselves are .w2p files (as for web2py apps). There are just tar gzipped files containing the source code. You do not need to unzip them. The admin interface will unzip them on upload in web2py. Once a plugin becomes part of your app, you can customize it without affecting other apps. Look and feel can be customized via CSS.

Demo Plugin Sortable Table

Current shouts

Source code

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{{extend 'layout.html'}}

<h1>Demo Plugin Sortable Table</h1>
{{=crud.create(db.shout)}}

<h2>Current shouts</h2>
{{=plugin_datatable(db(db.shout.id>0).select(),_class='datatable')}}

Download Plugin