Web widget

For other uses, see GUI widget.

In computing a web widget is a software widget for the web. It's a small application that can be installed and executed within a web page by an end user. They are derived from the idea of code reuse. Other terms used to describe web widgets include:^{[citation needed]} portlet, 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

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.

Embeddable chunks of code have existed since the early development of the World Wide Web. Web developers have long sought and used third party code chunks in their pages. Early web widgets provided functions such as link counters and advertising banners.

Widgets may be looked upon as downloadable applications which look and act like traditional apps but are implemented using web technologies including JavaScript, Flash, HTML and CSS. Widgets use and depend on web APIs exposed either by the browser or by a widget engine such as Akamai, Clearspring, KickApps, MassPublisher, NewsGator, Plusmo, Widgetbox, Widsets, WebWag and many others.

Sites such as MassPublisher, SnackTools and Widgetbox, allow users to easily create widgets from their own content with no coding knowledge necessary.

Major widget types

Widgets come in many shapes and sizes, but two of the major types today are Web widgets and Desktop widgets. Web widgets are intended for use on (embedding in) webpages and have major implications in areas such as site performance, SEO and even backlink campaigns. Desktop widgets are embedded on local computers, and do not impact SEO or webpage performance.

As an example, Widgetbox generate Web widgets that can be used on almost any website. Apple Desktop widgets can only be added to the desktop of your local (Apple) computer.

A more recent use of Widgets is for payments, some of which can be used to accept payments for content or services on a website. For example, using JunglePay to set up and enable micro-payments for specific content on a blog or social site. Allowing web masters and site owners with little or no knowledge of programming to enable payment acceptance for their website.

Usage in social media

End users primarily use widgets to enhance their personal web experiences, or the web experiences of visitors to their personal sites.

The use of widgets has proven increasingly popular, where users of social media are able to add stand-alone applications to blogs, profiles and community pages. Widgets add utility in the same way that an iPhone application does. The developers of these widgets are often offering them as a form of sponsored content, which can pay for the cost of the development when the widget's utility maps to the user's needs in a way where both parties gain. (e.g. a sports news brand might gain awareness and increased audience share in exchange for the utility of current game scores being instantly and dynamically available - the blog which posted the Sports score widget might gain in having a stickier site).

Element of control

One important factor with Widgets is that the host does not control the content. The content or the functionality it provides can not be modified by the host. The content is pre-published by the publisher/author/service provider and the host can either accept that content or not use the widget. The host does however control the placement of the Widget. Because the host can always take the Widget down, it assures a large degree of mutual advantage and satisfaction with performance and content.

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 Fortinet as luring users to install Zango adware.^[1]

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.

Widget management systems

Main article: Widget engine

Widget management systems offer a method of managing widgets that works on any web page, such as a blog or social networking home page. Many blog systems come with built in widget management systems as plug-ins. Users can obtain widgets and other widget management tools from various widget companies.

Mobile Web widget

See also: Mobile Web and Widget engine#Mobile widgets

A Mobile Web widget is a web widget that is made or designed for access on mobile device.

Standards

The W3C is creating a set of standards for web widgets and there are several proprietary standards.

References

1. ^ "Widget inflicts malware - Facebook ignores advisory?". blog.anta.net. 2008-01-05. ISSN 1797-1993. http://blog.anta.net/2008/01/05/widget-inflicts-malware-facebook-ignores-advisory/. Retrieved 2008-01-05. 

Further reading

• Rajesh Lal; Developing Web Widget with HTML, CSS, JSON and AJAX (ISBN 9781450502283)

External links

• Check Point AppWiki - Characteristics and threats of Web 2.0 widgets