Don't just skim this section thinking it's a waste of breath on the self-explanatory header fields. Unlike a normal PHP file in which the comments are purely optional, in WordPress plugin and theme files, the Information Header is required! It is this block of text that causes a file to show up on WordPress' radar so that you can activate it or deactivate it. If your plugin is missing a valid information header, you cannot use it!
To reinforce that the information header is an integral part of a plugin, try the following exercise:
In your WordPress Dashboard, ensure that the "Hello Dolly" plugin has been activated.
If applicable, use your preferred (s)FTP program to connect to your WordPress installation.
Using your text editor, temporarily delete the information header from
wp-content/plugins/hello.php
and save the file (you can save the header elsewhere for now). Save the file.Refresh the Plugins page in your browser.
You should get a warning from...