Magento is a new open-source eCommerce platform that has a main goal of providing webmasters or online store owners with a remarkably wide range of customization and fine-tuning capabilities. It’s architecture is based on modules – each of them is in turn responsible for certain type of features, processes or activities. Magento supports installation of modules through a web-based interface accessible through the administration area of a Magento installation.

Modules are hosted on the Magento eCommerce website as a PEAR server. Any community member may upload a module through the website. The uploaded module is then made available to the full Magento community once approved by a member of the Magento team. Modules are installed by entering a module key, available on the module page, into the web based interface.

There are three categories of modules hosted on Magento Connect: