However, there is one case in which themes and
plugins collide, and that’s when the functions.php
file comes into play. The theme file can do more
or less anything a plugin can, which means that it
can be an optional solution for a publisher that
normally would require a plugin. It also means
that functions.php can clash with plugins, if not
used with caution.This chapter explains when you should use a
plugin and when to use functions.php instead.WORDPRESS THEMES AND plugins
typically work separately from each other,
coming together only when it comes to imple-
menting features. This cooperation is usually
managed by having the correct widget areas
available in the theme’s template files, so the user
can drop the plugin’s widget where it should be,
or by actually putting plugin PHP code snippets
into the theme. Sometimes the plugins will
output or activate the functionality by use of the
WordPress hooks, which in essence means that
the theme only has to comply with WordPress to
trigger the plugins. It is all pretty
straightforward.PLUGINS OR
FUNCTIONS.PHP?