Web Widget

Web Widgets (Widget) are mini web applications that you can insert into your website and/or social networks. They're a popular way to add interesting third party content to your web presence.

They are derived from the idea of code reuse. Other terms used to describe web widgets include
portlet, web part, gadget, badge, module, webjit, capsule, snippet, mini and flake. Widgets are typically created in DHTML, JavaScript, or Adobe Flash.

Widgets often take the form of on-screen device (clocks, event countdowns, auction-tickers, stock market tickers, flight arrival information, daily weather etc.).

Widget on Your Facebook Profile

A widget is a stand-alone application that can be embedded into third party sites by any user on a page where they have rights of authorship (e.g. a webpage, blog, or profile on a social media site). Widgets allow users to turn personal content into dynamic web apps that can be shared on websites where the code can be installed. For example, a "Weather Report Widget" could report today's weather by accessing data from the Weather Channel, it could even be sponsored by the Weather Channel. Should you want to put that widget on your own Facebook profile, you could do this by copying and pasting the embed code into your profile on Facebook.

Widget on Blog/Site

If you write on your own blog, web widgets can be used to provide additional functionality. For example, Feedburner is a website that allows people to sign up for your RSS feed. They provide a widget that you can put on your blog to help people sign up. YouTube also provides a widget, allowing you to make a playlist of your favorite videos. And these are just two among many widgets that can be used in conjunction with your blog. But widgets aren't just for personal use. Businesses also use widgets to enhance their websites. Widgets can be used to track visitors to the website and provide information on how the visitor found the website. They can also be used to provide syndicated content, such as relevant content from the Associated Press, or information like stock quotes.

Difference Between Widget and Gadget

Explaining the difference between a widget and a gadget would be the stuff of comedy. Nowadays, it is serious discussion. The easiest way to explain it is that a gadget is any widget that is not a widget. Sound confusing? A widget is a piece of reusable code that you can plug into virtually any website. A gadget acts just like a widget, often fulfilling the same purpose, but it is proprietary. It only works on a certain website or a specific set of websites. For example, Google Gadgets can look and act like widgets. But they only work on Google pages. A widget, on the other hand, works on any page that lets you add an HTML block. You can put them on your blog, or your personalized start page, or your personal website.

Security Considerations

As any program code, widgets can be used for malicious purposes. One example is the Facebook “Secret Crush” widget, reported in early 2008 by Fortine.

SEO Considerations

One major consideration in the use of web widgets is how they'll impact the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) of your site. Client-side widgets include pretty much anything rendered in JavaScript or Flash, and are by far the most common types of widgets you'll see today. The content of these widgets is not visible to search engines, and will therefore not be seen as part of the content of your site. Server-side widget content is visible to search engines, but these are slightly harder to embed. In both cases, search bots can see the embed code for the widget itself, so some of the SEO concern can be alleviated this way—but SEO should be part of your consideration in the use of any widget on your site.