wp.org search vs our merit ranking: “xmlns”

wp.org orders by popularity, so a plugin a host bundled onto millions of sites, or a big-brand one that's slow and mediocre, can sit at the top. Our ranking is built to answer a different question: which of these is actually worth installing. How this works →

For “xmlns”, we agree with wp.org on the top plugin, and our order differs from theirs on 15 of the top 20. 3 plugins are pushed down for signals wp.org ignores: errors, a host-installed base, or removal risk.

wp.org search ranks on

Install count (uncapped), the raw star average, freshness, and support. Popularity dominates, so the biggest install base usually wins regardless of how it got there.

We add

A cap on the install boost, volume-weighted ratings, and signals wp.org can't see: whether it throws errors on current PHP, whether the install base is organic or host-pushed, and its risk of being pulled.

Ranked above its merit

Accordion Block Lite shows at wp.org #5 but places #10 on merit, a gap of 5 places. Its 400+ installs carry it up the search order; its 0.0★ average from 0 reviews, plus freshness and upkeep, place it lower on our volume-weighted scale.

Buried gem

Social Preview and Open Graph Tags places #3 on merit, 4.6★ from 122 reviews, but shows at wp.org #9. A smaller install base keeps it further down the default search order than its quality signals alone would.

merit plugin signals wp.org

Breadcrumb Block 2K+ · 5.0★ (14) thin reviews wp.org #1 2

One Click SSL 10K+ · 4.9★ (139) wp.org #7 5 too low 3

Social Preview and Open Graph Tags 50K+ · 4.6★ (122) wp.org #9 6 too low 4

Lindystream: Product Feed for SureCart 10+ · 5.0★ (1) thin reviews wp.org #2 2 too high 5 W WP Social AutoConnect 400+ · 4.4★ (13) thin reviews wp.org #15 10 too low 6

TearSnow WFW CommentAPI Cleaner 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #3 3 too high 7 T Ten&Two XSLT Processor 10+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewslow rating, top placement wp.org #4 3 too high 8

GPX Route Map 100+ · 5.0★ (3) thin reviews wp.org #10 2 too low 9 M MB ImageChimp RSS Feed Enhancer 700+ · 5.0★ (7) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #18 9 too low 10

Accordion Block Lite 400+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviewslow rating, top placementstale but ranked wp.org #5 5 too high 11 P Page navigation by menu — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #6 5 too high 12 S Sparkling Appcast — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviewsstale but ranked wp.org #8 4 too high 13

SB RSS feed plus 1K+ · 3.9★ (10) throws errorsnot PHP-currentclosure risk thin reviews wp.org #19 6 too low 14

EDZNET WP HTTPS 100+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #11 3 too high 15

host-meta 60+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #12 3 too high 16

PlugStudio SVG CurrentColor Normalizer 20+ · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #13 3 too high 17

HTML API Debugger — · 0.0★ (0) thin reviews wp.org #14 3 too high 18 A Ajax Comment Preview 40+ · 4.3★ (3) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #20 2 too low 19 A AddThis xmlns 10+ · 0.0★ (0) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #17 2 too high 20

Calder SVG 10+ · 5.0★ (1) closure risk thin reviews wp.org #16 4 too high

Merit ranking caps the install boost at 1M (wp.org leaves it uncapped), replaces the raw star average with a volume-weighted Bayesian score and a Wilson lower bound, and keeps wp.org's own freshness and compatibility decays. Method from the plugin-directory source; see Meta Trac #8298. Positions are tracked daily from the first visit to a keyword, so the small arrows show movement since tracking began.