Thanks to mod loaders like Forge, you can simply install the loader and then drop the necessary .jar file for the mod into Forge's mods folder.

Minecraft mods come in all shapes and sizes, either significantly altering the game or simply adding a few subtle features, like the Essential Mod does. If you’ve ever wondered what it did or ...

Choose the "Install client" option to create a new profile in your Minecraft launcher called "Forge." Forge acts as a mod loader, allowing you to run multiple mods simultaneously.