The plugin is ideal for creators who publish downloadable materials, documentation, manuals, catalogs, checklists, templates or any other files in formats such as PDF, ZIP, JPG, DOCX or external links. If you want to know which resources your visitors interact with most often, DC Download Counter gives you clear and accurate statistics without relying on heavy analytics tools.

The extension was designed to be as minimalistic as possible while remaining highly effective. It tracks link clicks and downloads with precision and stores only one entry per unique IP, ensuring that your statistics remain clean, reliable and not artificially inflated. Next to each tracked link, the plugin displays a badge showing the current number of downloads. The badge appears automatically and is visible to both users and administrators without any additional modules or configuration. Since it supports both local and external URLs, it works perfectly for files stored on your server as well as links to GitHub, Google Drive, Dropbox or any external hosting.

One of the most convenient features is the shortcode system. Because editors such as TinyMCE tend to remove custom HTML classes, DC Download Counter uses a simple shortcode syntax that you place directly in your article. After saving, the plugin automatically converts it into a fully functional tracked link with a counter badge. This makes the system stable, editor-proof and usable in articles, custom modules, documentation pages and any Joomla component that supports onContentPrepare. The plugin does not rely on jQuery or external libraries; it is built strictly on native Joomla functions for maximum speed and stability.

Installation is straightforward. After downloading the ZIP package from Design Cart LAB or GitHub, you upload it through Joomla’s Extension Installer and enable the plugin. Optional settings allow you to customize the appearance of the badge, such as background color, text color and size (M, L or XL). Adjustments take effect immediately. Once active, tracking begins as soon as you insert a shortcode into your content.

Counting is handled by a very efficient and transparent mechanism. Each tracked link creates its own log file stored in the media directory. The log contains timestamp and IP entries, and the total number of unique lines corresponds to the total number of downloads. Using plain text log files ensures extremely high performance, even on weaker hosting environments, and avoids creating additional database tables. Because only IP addresses are stored, the plugin follows the principles of data minimization and remains privacy-friendly. Logs are easy to reset: deleting a log file simply resets the counter to zero.

DC Download Counter adapts beautifully to different website types. It is useful for PDF libraries, blogs that publish downloadable materials, technical documentation sites, catalogs, project guidance, and websites that rely on external resources hosted in the cloud. By showing which files are downloaded most frequently, the plugin helps creators understand what content resonates with their audience and plan further materials accordingly.

Performance and security were key priorities. The plugin operates entirely within Joomla’s event system, without modifying core files or requiring additional components. It works smoothly on both Joomla 5 and Joomla 6, fully aligned with current coding standards and namespaces. The architecture ensures stable operation, minimal resource usage and complete compatibility with modern templates and editors.

If visitors frequently download materials from your site, DC Download Counter provides real, actionable data in the simplest possible way. It introduces a feature that Joomla has been missing for years: clear, effortless, on-page download statistics. The plugin is completely free and available in the Design Cart LAB. Designed for simplicity, stability and precision, it is the perfect tool when you need lightweight, reliable tracking of link clicks and file downloads.