This article explains how to use plug-ins with Yahoo! Messenger.

Plug-ins are fun, functional mini-programs that plug in to Yahoo! Messenger. There are two types:

Conversation Activities

Conversation activities are plug-ins that help you share files and activities with friends while you're in a Messenger conversation. These plug-ins appear in the conversation window, to the right of the messaging area. Click the Activities button at the top of the conversation window to view the available activities.

You could use a plug-in to view a map or website at the same time, check out upcoming events, play games together, and more. Remember, Plug-ins without the Yahoo! logo are the sole responsibility of the Plug-in developer. Yahoo! Certified Plug-ins, such as "itranslate"(used to translate foreign languages in the conversation window) and "Yahoo! Scribbler"(to draw pictures with your contact), are fully supported by Yahoo!.

Tab Plug-ins

Tab plug-ins keep you up-to-the-minute on things like auctions, news, sports, your Yahoo! Calendar and your  Yahoo! Finance portfolio. You can these plug-ins to watch videos, order items, and more. Look below your Messenger list to open these Plug-Ins' sliding windows.