Your administrator Components are also used in the administrator area of your website.
In addition to the ones listed here, there are components in the administrator that do not have direct front end displays, but do help shape your website.
Clarification
Sometimes it can be a little confusing (ambiguous ?) as to what the 'Updates' or 'Update' options refer to.
Maybe an analogy can be made here to help clarify.
The Joomla CMS could be seen as equivalent to Windows™ ® operating system.
Joomla CMS: Components, Plugins, Extensions, Modules could be seen as equivalent to: Word™ ® Excel™ ® Powerpoint™ ® as examples.
In your administrator area, in the administrator menu . . .
Components ⇒ Joomla! Update - refers to your Joomla! CMS (Windows™ ® in our analogy above);
Extensions ⇒ Manage ⇒ Update - refers to your Joomla Components, Plugins, Extensions, Modules (Word™ ® Excel™ ® Powerpoint™ ® in our analogy above).
The most important Components for most users are:
Media Manager- Extensions Manager
- Menu Manager
- Global Configuration
- Banners
- Redirect
- Joomla Updater
- Messaging Component
Media Manager
Media Manager
The media manager component lets you upload and insert images into content (such as articles for example) throughout your website.
Optionally, you can enable the flash up-loader which will allow you to to upload multiple images.
Your uploaded images are "stored" in the media or images folder and then can be inserted into an article or module.
Your Images/Media folder can be divided into folders - pretty much as you would create folders on your PC or laptop.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Media is managed via the Administrator area 'Content' tab and then selecting the 'Media' tab.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Media is managed via the Administrator area 'Content' tab and then selecting the 'Media' tab.
The right-pointing grey arrow 
indicates that a sub-menu is available.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Media is managed via the Administrator area 'Content' tab and then selecting the 'Media' tab.
The right-pointing grey arrow indicates that a sub-menu is available.
Go to top of page Extensions Manager
Your extensions manager component lets you install, update, uninstall and manage all of your extensions.
The extensions manager has been extensively redesigned, although the core install and uninstall functionality remains the same as way back in Joomla version 1.5.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Extensions are managed via the Administrator area 'Extensions' tab in the Administrator area menu, and then selecting the 'Manage' tab.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Plugins are managed via the Administrator area 'Extensions' tab and then selecting the 'Manage' tab.
The right-pointing grey arrow indicates that a sub-menu is available.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Extensions are managed via the Administrator area 'Extensions' tab and then selecting the 'Manage' tab.
The right-pointing grey arrow indicates that a sub-menu is available which you can see in the above image for the 'Manage' tab.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Extensions are updated via the Administrator area 'Extensions' tab and then selecting the 'Update' tab.
The right-pointing grey arrow indicates that a sub-menu is available which you can see in the above image for the 'Manage' tab.
The sub-menu tab 'Update Sites', maybe a little ambiguous, refers to the component / extension developer's websites where your extension update file(s) are obtained from, not updating your own Joomla CMS.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Extensions are updated via the Administrator area 'Extensions' tab and then selecting the 'Update' tab.
The right-pointing grey arrow indicates that a sub-menu is available which you can see in the above image for the 'Manage' tab.
The sub-menu tab 'Update Sites', maybe a little ambiguous, refers to the component / extension developer's websites where your extension update file(s) are obtained from, not updating your own Joomla CMS.
Menu Manager
Your menu manager component lets you create the menus you see displayed on your website.
This also allows you to assign template styles to specific menu links.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Menus are administered via the Administrator area 'Menus' menu tab.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Menus are managed via the Administrator area 'Menus' tab
The 'Manage' tab and 'All Menu Items' tab will be quite standard options.
Additional Menus will be added here with the name you give to the additional Menus.
The grey right-pointing arrow indicates that a sub-menu exists.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Menus are managed via the Administrator area 'Menus' tab
The 'Manage' tab and 'All Menu Items' tab will be quite standard options.
Additional Menus will be added here with the name you give to the additional Menus.
The grey right-pointing arrow indicates that a sub-menu exists.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Menus are managed via the Administrator area 'Menus' tab
The 'Manage' tab and 'All Menu Items' tab will be quite standard options.
Additional Menus will be added here with the name you give to the additional Menus.
The grey right-pointing arrow indicates that a sub-menu exists.
Global Configuration
Your global configuration is where the website administrator configures things such as whether search engine friendly (SEF) urls are enabled, the site meta data (descriptive text used by search engines and indexers) and many other functions including which WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor is used.
Some Global Configuration options can be over-ridden, within specific articles for example.
For many beginning users simply leaving the settings on default is a good way to begin, although when your website is ready for the public you will most likely want to change the meta data to match your website content.
Global Configuration has 5 sections, each section accessed by its own tab:
- Site
- System
- Server
- Text Filters
- Permissions
In Joomla version 3.10.x Global Configuration is managed via the Administrator area 'System' tab and then selecting the 'Global Configuration' tab.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Global Configuration is managed via the Administrator area 'System' tab and then selecting the 'Global Configuration' tab.
Within 'Global Configuration' you are presented with five areas of configuration: Site; System; Server; Text Filters; and Permissions - which relate to your website as a whole.
In Joomla version 3.10.x the Global Configuration - 'Site' tab - shows your Site Settings, Metadata Settings and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Settings.
In Joomla version 3.10.x the Global Configuration - 'System' tab - shows your System Settings, Debug Settings, Cache Settings and Session Settings.
The 'Path to Log Folder *' data field in the above image has been redacted (blurred) for security reasons.
In Joomla version 3.10.x the Global Configuration - 'Server' tab - shows your Server Settings, Location Settings, FTP (File transfer Protocol) Settings, Proxy Settings, Database Settings and mail Settings.
The 'Path to Temp Folder' data field, 'Database Username *' data field, 'Database Name *' data field, 'Database Tables Prefix' data field and 'From Email' data field in the above image has been redacted (blurred) for security reasons - they are visible to 'Super Users' when they (Super Users) log-in to the Administrator area
In Joomla version 3.10.x the Global Configuration - 'Text Filters' tab - shows your Filters Settings for your User Groups.
Two of our (UsingJoomla.com) User Groups have been redacted (blurred) for security reasons.
The Global Configuration - 'Permissions Tab' - is where you set your site-wide (Global) Permissions based on your User Groups - 'who can see and do what'.
Two of our (UsingJoomla.com) User Groups have been redacted (blurred) for security reasons.
You select the User Group in the column to the left and set their Permissions according to your wishes.
Global Configuration Component Help
Banners
Your Banners Component provides a simple way to display a rotating image in a module and, if you wish to have advertising, a way to track the number of times an image is viewed and clicked.
Your Banners Component can probably be seen as a advertising banner management system.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Banners are managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Banners' tab.
The right-pointing grey arrow indicates that a sub-menu exists.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Banners are managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Banners' tab.
The right-pointing grey arrow indicates that a sub-menu exists.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Banners are managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Banners' tab - which will reveal four sub-menu items: Banners, Categories, Clients, Tasks.
Redirects
Your Redirect Component is used, among other things, to manage broken links that produce Page Not Found (404) errors.
If enabled this will allow you to redirect broken links to specific pages.
Redirect can also be used to manage migration related URL changes.
Many things can cause "Page Not Found" messages - as a website Administrator you may decide to "move" one or more of your articles, for example from one Menu item to another menu item - you can use your Redirect Component to redirect the "old" menu location of an article to its new menu location.
Your Redirect Component can also record occurrences of Page Not Found - so visit this part of your website Administrator area regularly - it can also let you know what you may have forgotten to update in your list of re-directions.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Redirects (URL) is managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Redirects' tab.
The above 'Components' tab view shows only the Joomla version 3.10.x Default components.
Redirect Manager Component Help
Joomla Updater
From time-to-time your Joomla version will receive an updated version.
Your Joomla Update component can quickly and easily update your version with the latest version by downloading the new version and installing it directly into your website.
The Joomla updater Options allows you to set the "release type" - these typically come in different forms such as: Short Term Support; Long Term Support; Testing etc.
UsingJoomla.com recommends using the "Stable" version as testing versions, Alpha versions, and Beta versions may still contain bugs that may cause issues on your live website.
The "Testing" version should not be used on a live website - because this version can contain bugs that can crash / destroy your website. "Testing" versions are usually used on development/test sites by users who want to test and report back bugs to the developers.
Tip
Before you update Joomla, ensure that the installed extensions are available for the new Joomla version.
You are strongly advised to make a backup of your installation before you start updating.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Joomla! updates are managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Joomla! Update' tab.
This relates specifically to the Joomla! updates.
The above Joomla version 3.10.x Components menu image shows only the default Joomla components.
For Extension updates (Components, Plugins, etc) see our sixth (6th) menu image in this section.
The grey right-pointing arrow indicates that a sub-menu is available.
If no Joomla CMS Updates are found, you will see a screen similar to the following image . . .
In Joomla version 3.10.x Joomla! CMS updates are managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Joomla! Update' tab.
This relates specifically to the Joomla! CMS updates.
The above image shows that there is a Joomla update found and available. from this screen you can update your Joomla CMS via either the 'Live Update' tab or the 'Upload and Update' tab.
You also have multiple 'Installation Method' options - here we show 'Write files directly'.
If no Joomla CMS Updates are found, you will see a screen similar to the following image . . .
In Joomla version 3.10.x Joomla! CMS updates are managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Joomla! Update' tab.
This relates specifically to the Joomla! CMS updates.
The above image shows that there is NO Joomla update found.
On this page you have the option to re-install the Joomla core files - this can be useful in the event of suspect corruption.
Messaging Component
Your Joomla Messaging Component allows you to write a private message to another User - for example if there is another Site Administrator you can write a message and when the other Administrator logs-in to the Administrator area they will see that they have a message.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Private Messaging is managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Messaging' tab, and then selecting the 'New Private Message' tab.
The above Components menu image shows only the Joomla default components.
Menu items with a right-pointing triangle have a sub-menu available.
In Joomla version 3.10.x Private Messaging is managed via the Administrator area 'Components' tab and then selecting the 'Messaging' tab, and then selecting the 'New Private Message' tab.
The above Components menu image shows only the Joomla default components.
Menu items with a right-pointing triangle have a sub-menu available.
