widget
WIJ-it
/ˈwɪdʒ.ɪt/
A small, self-contained interactive application element embedded directly into an operating system interface or home screen.
Unlike a full application that opens in its own window, a widget runs directly on a surface to show quick dynamic updates.
The story behind the word. Coined around 1920 in American business jargon as a placeholder name for any manufactured physical gadget (similar to 'thingamajig'). In the 1980s, computer scientists at Project Athena adopted the word to mean visual software components embedded in GUI frames.
Word relationships
- applet: Applet usually refers to small back-end or web scripts, whereas widget refers to user interface graphical mini-tools.
- gadget: Gadget usually refers to a physical hardware object, whereas widget in software refers to a screen component.
- application: A full-scale standalone application, as opposed to a lightweight embedded home screen tool.
Commonly confused with
- gidget: Gidget is a fictional character name or slang term, not a software component.
Word family
- widgets (noun): Plural form of widget.
Collocations
- weather widget
- screen widget
- interactive widget
- widget gallery
- desktop widget
Example sentences
- "He placed a small weather widget on his home screen to display temperature changes instantly." User Interface Customization
- "A clock widget updates every minute on the home panel without requiring the main app to launch." Software Architecture
Memory hook
WINDOW + GADGET = WIDGET. A small software gadget on your screen window. Mini software tool sitting on your home screen.
When not to use
Do not use for complete standalone software programs with full sub-menus.
Fun facts
- Economics textbooks have traditionally used the word 'widget' for decades as the generic placeholder for manufactured goods.
Related words
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