What are the differences between plugins in Joomla and PHP scripts in terms of functionality?

In Joomla, plugins are extensions that provide additional functionality to the CMS, such as adding new features or modifying existing ones. On the other hand, PHP scripts are standalone files that can perform various tasks, such as processing form data or interacting with a database. While plugins in Joomla are specific to the CMS and require knowledge of the Joomla framework, PHP scripts can be used in any PHP environment and are not limited to a particular platform.

// Example PHP script to process form data
if ($_SERVER["REQUEST_METHOD"] == "POST") {
    $name = $_POST["name"];
    $email = $_POST["email"];
    
    // Process the form data here
}