Widget
A widget is a small self-contained component that displays information or enables a specific action and can be embedded in a website, a desktop or a device’s home screen
What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.
What it is and how it works
Common examples include weather or calendar widgets on a phone’s home screen, or a map, chat or review block embedded in a web page, and social sharing buttons. Many are inserted with a code snippet provided by an external service, which keeps the content up to date.
In interface design the term is also used more broadly for any control element, such as buttons, sliders or checkboxes. It should be distinguished from a plugin, which adds functionality to an application or CMS, whereas a widget is the visible piece placed in a specific area. Third-party widgets can affect loading speed and privacy, so it is worth checking what data they collect.
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