Definition:
A widget is an interface component that displays information or performs a specific function within an application, a web page or a device environment. It can display the weather, show upcoming appointments, provide a search box or let users control a function without opening the entire application.
In programming, the term also refers to elements of a graphical user interface, such as buttons, drop-down menus, scroll bars, checkboxes and progress indicators.
Its meaning depends on the context. A widget on a mobile home screen does not necessarily work in the same way as a component embedded in a website. It may be included in the system, form part of an application or be added through an external tool.
Types of widgets
Widgets can be classified according to the environment in which they are used:
- Desktop widgets: display information or controls in the computer environment, such as clocks, weather forecasts or calendars. Their availability depends on the operating system and installed applications.
- Mobile widgets: display information or actions in areas such as the home screen. They may be linked to calendar, search, music or weather applications.
- Web widgets: are components embedded in a page to display content or add functions, such as maps, forms or calendars. They can use HTML, CSS and JavaScript, or content embedded from another service.
Both free and paid options exist. The price depends on the product or service, not on whether it is a widget.
On a business website, these components can make information easier to access and maintain a presentation consistent with its branding. Adding them does not by itself guarantee more traffic or better results.
Calendar widgets
A calendar widget lets users check dates or upcoming events in a compact view. It is useful to distinguish the widget from the application that stores and manages the schedule.
For example, Google Calendar offers widgets for compatible devices and allows calendars to be embedded in web pages. These are different forms of presentation: displaying a schedule on a mobile phone does not mean that the calendar is public on the internet.
DigiCal also offers widgets for checking a schedule from the Android home screen. The available views and options depend on the application and its configuration.
For a shared calendar or one embedded in a website, permissions determine who can view events and what information is visible. Adding the component does not replace the calendar’s access settings.
WordPress widgets
In WordPress, widgets add content and functions to areas provided by the theme, such as sidebars or footers. Not all themes include the same areas or manage them in the same way.
A plugin extends the capabilities of WordPress and may provide widgets, but not all widgets require an additional plugin: WordPress includes several by default. Nor are they limited to displaying information; they can include controls or interactive functions.
In compatible classic themes, they are managed through Appearance > Widgets or the Customizer. The block-based widgets editor allows blocks to be placed in these areas. In block themes, headers, footers and other template parts are organised through the Site Editor.
Changing the theme can alter the available areas and how components are presented. A plugin remaining active does not guarantee that its widgets will retain the same location.
Common uses include the following:
- Social media links: display icons and links to the organisation’s profiles.
- Location maps: help users find an establishment and complement the information about a local business.
- Featured or popular posts: make publications easier to discover. Identifying the most popular requires a criterion or measurement, not simply displaying the most recent ones.
- Advertising spaces: allow ads to be inserted when the integration and service conditions permit it. Adding a space does not guarantee revenue or acceptance of the website by an advertising platform.
Mobile widgets
On Android and iOS, widgets display information and, when interactive, allow certain actions without opening the full application interface. Other actions do require opening it.
On many Android devices, widgets are added by touching and holding an empty area of the home screen and selecting the widgets option. On iPhone, they are added through the editing options for the relevant screen. The available steps and locations vary according to the system version and device.
Common examples include search, weather, time, upcoming appointments and playback controls. The options depend on the installed applications and the widgets they provide.
Information is not always updated continuously. Connectivity, permissions and battery restrictions can affect when the displayed data is refreshed.