In
computer programming, a
third-party software component is a reusable
software component developed to be either freely distributed or sold by an entity other than the original vendor of the development platform. The third-party software component market thrives because many programmers believe that
component-oriented development improves the efficiency and the quality of developing custom applications. Common third-party software include macros, bots, software/scripts to be run as add-on for popular developing software.