Widgets

A widget is a generic term for a small device or component, used to describe a tangible gadget or a software module. Historically, it appeared as a placeholder name in technical and business writings to refer to an unspecified object.

In manufacturing and product design, widgets are hypothetical parts used in assembly processes and cost analyses, or real small components used in prototyping. The term is used to discuss efficiency, inventory, or quality control without naming specific parts.

In computing, widget refers to a reusable graphical component or small application. On desktop or mobile, widgets are small programs that display information or provide quick actions, such as clocks, weather, stock quotes, or reminders. Web widgets are embeddable widgets that fetch data from servers and render in pages.

Widget design emphasizes modularity, interoperability, and lightweight interfaces. Reusable widgets can be combined into dashboards or applications. Developers consider accessibility, localization, performance, and security. Standards and frameworks for widgets vary by platform, including widget toolkits, widget engines, and content security policies.

Because the term spans multiple domains, the meaning of widget often depends on the context.