What type of plugins does Liferay prefer as a development approach?

Liferay prefers a broad category of "plugins" as a development approach due to their versatility and ability to enhance the platform's capabilities. Plugins in Liferay can encompass various types, including themes, portlets, and more. This approach allows developers to extend functionality without altering the core system, ensuring that upgrades and maintenance are streamlined.

Using plugins promotes modular development, meaning that components can be developed, tested, and deployed independently. This modularity also aids in reusability, as developers can share and reuse plugins across different projects or instances. Furthermore, the plugin architecture in Liferay is designed to support diverse use cases, whether it's creating new user interfaces, integrating third-party services, or customizing existing features.

The other types of plugins mentioned—such as hooks, custom plugins, and standard plugins—represent specific implementations within the broader plugin category. While they serve essential functions, none possess the range and flexibility implied by the general term "plugins." Hence, leveraging plugins as a development approach aligns closely with Liferay's philosophy of modularity and extensibility.