What are some essential plugins/extensions for CMS-based web design?

The essential plugins or extensions for CMS-based web design can vary depending on the specific CMS platform being used and the requirements of the website. However, here are some commonly used plugins/extensions across different CMS platforms:

Security Plugins:
Wordfence (WordPress): Provides firewall protection, malware scanning, and login security features.
Sucuri Security (WordPress, Joomla, Drupal): Offers website security monitoring, malware removal, and firewall protection.
Shield Security (WordPress): Helps protect against brute force attacks, spam, and malicious login attempts.
SEO Plugins:
Yoast SEO (WordPress): Offers tools for optimizing on-page SEO, including content analysis, XML sitemap generation, and meta tag management.
All in One SEO Pack (WordPress): Provides similar features to Yoast SEO, including XML sitemaps, meta tag optimization, and social media integration.
SEOmatic (Craft CMS): Optimizes SEO for Craft CMS websites by automatically generating meta tags, optimizing schema markup, and managing sitemaps.
Performance Optimization Plugins:
WP Rocket (WordPress): Improves website speed and performance through caching, minification, and lazy loading of images.
W3 Total Cache (WordPress): Caches website files and optimizes performance by reducing page load times and improving server response times.
Fastly (Craft CMS): Integrates with Craft CMS to provide content delivery network (CDN) services for improved website performance and scalability.
Backup and Restore Plugins:
UpdraftPlus (WordPress): Enables automatic backups of WordPress websites to cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Amazon S3.
Akeeba Backup (Joomla): Offers backup and restoration tools for Joomla websites, including support for scheduled backups and remote storage options.
Backup Pro (ExpressionEngine): Provides backup and restore functionality for ExpressionEngine websites, allowing for easy management of site backups and recovery.
Form Builder Plugins:
Gravity Forms (WordPress): Allows users to create custom forms with various field types, conditional logic, and integration with email marketing services and CRMs.
Contact Form 7 (WordPress): A lightweight plugin for creating simple contact forms with support for CAPTCHA, AJAX submission, and customization options.
Freeform (Craft CMS): Offers a flexible form builder for Craft CMS websites with support for file uploads, multi-page forms, and email notifications.
E-commerce Plugins:
WooCommerce (WordPress): Transforms WordPress websites into fully functional online stores with features for product management, payment processing, and order fulfillment.
Shopify Integration (Craft CMS): Integrates Craft CMS with Shopify to create a seamless e-commerce experience, allowing for product synchronization, order management, and customer data syncing.
MijoShop (Joomla): Provides a complete e-commerce solution for Joomla websites with features for product listings, shopping cart management, and payment gateway integration.
These are just a few examples of essential plugins/extensions for CMS-based web design. Depending on the specific needs and functionality required for your website, you may need to explore additional plugins/extensions or custom development solutions to enhance your CMS platform's capabilities.