Everybody involved on the web seems to speak about widgets. With its cartoon-like name, you may wonder what on earth a widget is. A widget is an Internet application that is used mainly on web pages, blogs, and profiles. Wikipedia describes web widgets as “a portable chunk of code that can be installed and executed within any separate HTML-based web page by an end user without requiring additional compilation.”
Widgets are not new developments, as they have been used for as long as society has had the web. You can use one to place scripts and banners on web pages. One of the benefits is that everyone can use them without having vast programming knowledge.
Lifestyle widgets are purely for entertainment purposes and are amusing. They tempt visitors to remain on the page. Videos also fall into lifestyle categories, especially when small movie clips are embedded into a web page. Photo sharing and slideshow widgets allow users to display their photos on their blogs and social network sites. Games widgets are basic computer games that are quick and simple. Functional widgets have some sort of purpose. Some give information, and others provide functional applications, such as clocks, weather updates, or calculators.
Widgets are available in every shape and type, and it is certain that they will continue to mature and develop. They are causing the marketing gurus to change their view of traditional marketing campaigns. They are also altering the views of product managers regarding marketing. Widgets have actually become products themselves, too.
Widgets can also be used in other formats and not just on the Internet. Computer desktops and mobile phones are using many widgets these days for different uses from calculators to recipes to games. They are visually appealing and generally attract users to try them out. They are definitely here to stay and will probably develop a lot further. Now that you know what a widget is, give one a try.