All Topics  
Widget (computing)

 

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Widget (computing)
 
 
  Topics Widget (computing) Topic Home

In computer programming, a widget (or control) is an element of a graphical user interface
Graphical user interface

A graphical user interface is a type of user interface which allows people to human-computer interaction such as computers; hand-held devices such as MP3 Players, Portable Media Players or Gaming devices; household appliances and office equipment....
 (GUI) that displays an information arrangement changeable by the user, such as a window
Window (computing)

In computing, a window is a visual area, usually rectangular in shape, containing some kind of user interface, displaying the output of and allowing input for one of a number of simultaneously running computer processes....
 or a text box
Text box

A text box, text field or text entry box is a common element of graphical user interface of computer programs, as well as the corresponding type of widget used when programming GUIs....
. The defining characteristic of a widget is to provide a single interaction point for the direct manipulation of a given kind of data.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Widget (computing)'
Start a new discussion about 'Widget (computing)'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Widgets
In computer programming, a widget (or control) is an element of a graphical user interface
Graphical user interface

A graphical user interface is a type of user interface which allows people to human-computer interaction such as computers; hand-held devices such as MP3 Players, Portable Media Players or Gaming devices; household appliances and office equipment....
 (GUI) that displays an information arrangement changeable by the user, such as a window
Window (computing)

In computing, a window is a visual area, usually rectangular in shape, containing some kind of user interface, displaying the output of and allowing input for one of a number of simultaneously running computer processes....
 or a text box
Text box

A text box, text field or text entry box is a common element of graphical user interface of computer programs, as well as the corresponding type of widget used when programming GUIs....
. The defining characteristic of a widget is to provide a single interaction point for the direct manipulation of a given kind of data. Widgets are basic visual building blocks which, combined in an application, hold all the data processed by the application and the available interactions on this data.

A family of common reusable widgets has evolved for holding general information based on the PARC
PARC

PARC may refer to:* PARC , the Palo Alto Research Center * PARC Management, a theme park and entertainment venue operator* Parc, New York, a census-designated place named for the Plattsburgh Airbase Redevelopment Corporation...
 research for the Xerox Alto
Xerox Alto

The Xerox Alto was an early personal computer developed at Xerox PARC in 1973. It was the first computer to use the desktop metaphor and graphical user interface ....
 User Interface. Different implementations of these generic widgets are often packaged together in widget toolkit
Widget toolkit

A widget toolkit, widget library, or GUI toolkit is a set of GUI widget for use in designing applications with graphical user interfaces ....
s, which programmers use to build graphical user interfaces (GUIs). Most operating systems include a set of ready-to-tailor widgets that a programmer can incorporate in an application, specifying how it is to behave. Each type of widgets generally is defined as a class by object-oriented programming (OOP
OOP

OOP may refer to:* Object-oriented programming, a computer programming paradigm* Object-oriented positioning, another name for feature-oriented positioning in microscopy...
). Therefore, many widgets are derived from class inheritance.

Widgets are sometimes qualified as virtual to distinguish them from their physical counterparts, e.g. virtual buttons
Button (computing)

In computing, a button is a user interface element that provides the user a simple way to trigger an event , like searching for a query at a search engine, or to interact with dialog boxes, like confirming an action....
 that can be clicked with a mouse cursor
Cursor (computers)

In computing, a cursor is an indicator used to show the position on a computer monitor or other display device that will respond to input from a text input or pointing device....
, vs. physical buttons
Button (control)

A push-button or simply "button is a simple switch mechanism for controlling some aspect of a machine or a process. Buttons are typically made out of hard material, usually plastic or metal....
 that can be pressed with a finger.

A related (but different) concept is the desktop widget, a small specialized GUI application that provides some visual information and/or easy access to frequently used functions such as clocks, calendars, news aggregators, calculators and desktop notes. These kinds of widgets are hosted by a widget engine
Widget engine

In computer software, a widget engine is a software service available to users for running and displaying desktop widgets on the desktop metaphor....
.

Etymology

“Widget” is short for “window gadget”. The term was first applied to user interface elements during Project Athena
Project Athena

Project Athena was a joint project of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Digital Equipment Corporation, and IBM to produce a campus-wide distributed computing environment for educational use....
 in 1988. The word was chosen because "all other common terms were overloaded with inappropriate connotations" and – since the project's Intrinsics
Intrinsics

Intrinsics is a library used in the X Window System. More precisely, it is a library that uses the low-level Xlib library and provides a friendly API to develop X11 software with graphical widgets....
 toolkit associated each widget with a window of the underlying X Window System
X Window System

The X Window System is a computing software system and network protocol that provides a graphical user interface for networked computers. It implements the X Window System protocols and architecture and provides windowing system on raster graphics Visual display units and manages Keyboard and pointing device control functions....
 – because of the common prefix with the word window.

List of common generic widgets

  • Selection and display of collections
    • Button
      Button (computing)

      In computing, a button is a user interface element that provides the user a simple way to trigger an event , like searching for a query at a search engine, or to interact with dialog boxes, like confirming an action....
      • Check box
        Check box

        In computing, a check box is a graphical user interface element that permits the user to make multiple selections from a number of options. Normally, check boxes are shown on the screen as a square box that can contain Whitespace or a Tick or X , as pictured....
      • Radio button
        Radio button

        A radio button or option button is a type of graphical user interface elements of graphical user interfaces that allows the user to choose one of a predefined set of options....
    • Slider
      Slider (computing)

      A slider is a object in a GUI with which a user may set a value by moving an indicator, usually in a horizontal fashion. In some cases the user may also click on a point on the slider to change the setting....
    • List box
      List box

      A list box is a GUI widget that allows the user to select one or more items from a list contained within a static, multiple line text box. The user clicks inside the box on an item to select it, sometimes in combination with the the Shift or Control key in order to make multiple selections....
    • Spinner
      Spinner (computing)

      A spinner is a graphical widget in a GUI, is typically oriented vertically, with which a user may adjust a value in an adjoining text box by either clicking on an up or down arrow, or by holding the arrow down, causing the value in the text box to increase or decrease ....
    • Drop-down list
      Drop-down list

      A drop-down list is a user interface Widget Graphical user interface element, similar to a list box, which allows the user to choose one value from a list....
    • Menu
      Menu (computing)

      In computing and telecommunications, a menu is a list of commands presented to an operator by a computer or communications system. They may be thought of as shortcuts to frequently used commands that avoid the operator having to have a detailed knowledge or recall of syntax....
      • Context menu
        Context menu

        A context menu is a menu in a graphical user interface that appears upon user interaction, such as a Right click#Common mouse operations. A context menu offers a limited set of choices that are available in the current state, or context, of the operating system or application....
      • Pie menu
        Pie menu

        In computer interface design, a pie menu is a circle context menu where selection depends on direction. A pie menu is made of several "pie slices" around an inactive center and works best with stylus input, and well with a mouse ....
    • Menu bar
      Menu bar

      A menu bar is a region where Menu are housed. Its purpose is to house window- or application-specific menus which provide access to such functions as opening files, interacting with an application, or help....
    • Toolbar
      Toolbar

      In a graphical user interface on a computer monitor a toolbar is a panel on which onscreen buttons, icons, menus or other input or output elements are placed....
    • Ribbon
      Ribbon (computing)

      In Graphical user interface-based application software, a ribbon is a form of toolbar, combined with a Tab . Recent releases of some Microsoft applications have prominently featured this type of toolbar....
    • Combo box
      Combo box

      A combo box is a commonly-used graphical user interface Widget . It is a combination of a drop-down list or list box and a single-line Text box, allowing the user to either type a value directly into the control or choose from the list of existing options....
       (text box
      Text box

      A text box, text field or text entry box is a common element of graphical user interface of computer programs, as well as the corresponding type of widget used when programming GUIs....
       with attached menu
      Menu (computing)

      In computing and telecommunications, a menu is a list of commands presented to an operator by a computer or communications system. They may be thought of as shortcuts to frequently used commands that avoid the operator having to have a detailed knowledge or recall of syntax....
       or List box
      List box

      A list box is a GUI widget that allows the user to select one or more items from a list contained within a static, multiple line text box. The user clicks inside the box on an item to select it, sometimes in combination with the the Shift or Control key in order to make multiple selections....
      )
    • Icon
      Icon (computing)

      On computer displays, a computer icon is a small pictogram. Icons have been used to supplement the normal alphanumerics of the computer. Modern computers now can handle bitmapped graphics on the display terminal, so the icons are widely used to assist users....
    • Tree view
      Tree view

      A tree view or an outline view is a graphical user interface element that presents a hierarchy#Containment hierarchy view of information....
    • Grid view
      Grid view

      A grid view or a datagrid is a graphical user interface element that presents a tabular view of data. A typical grid view also supports some or all of the following:...


  • Navigation
    • Tab
      Tab (GUI)

      In graphical user interfaces, a tab is a navigational Widget for switching between sets of controls or documents. It is traditionally designed as a text label within a rectangular box with its top borders rounded....
    • Scrollbar
      Scrollbar

      A scrollbar is a graphical object in a GUI with which continuous text, pictures or anything else can be Scrolling including time in video applications, i.e., viewed even if it does not fit into the space in a computer display, window , or viewport....


  • Text input
    • Text box
      Text box

      A text box, text field or text entry box is a common element of graphical user interface of computer programs, as well as the corresponding type of widget used when programming GUIs....
       (edit field)
    • Combo box
      Combo box

      A combo box is a commonly-used graphical user interface Widget . It is a combination of a drop-down list or list box and a single-line Text box, allowing the user to either type a value directly into the control or choose from the list of existing options....
       (text box
      Text box

      A text box, text field or text entry box is a common element of graphical user interface of computer programs, as well as the corresponding type of widget used when programming GUIs....
       with attached menu
      Menu (computing)

      In computing and telecommunications, a menu is a list of commands presented to an operator by a computer or communications system. They may be thought of as shortcuts to frequently used commands that avoid the operator having to have a detailed knowledge or recall of syntax....
      )


  • Output
    • Label
      Label (control)

      A label is a user interface control which displays text on a form. It is usually a static control; having no interactivity. A label is generally used to identify a nearby text box or other Widget ....
    • Tooltip
      Tooltip

      The tooltip is a common graphical user interface element. It is used in conjunction with a cursor , usually a mouse pointer. The user hovers the cursor over an item, without clicking it, and a small "hover box" appears with supplementary information regarding the item being hovered over....
    • Balloon help
      Balloon help

      Balloon help was a help system introduced by Apple Computer in their 1991 release of System 7 . The name referred to the way the help text was displayed, in "speech balloon", like those containing the words in a comic strip....
    • Status bar
      Status bar

      A status bar, similar to a status line, is an information area typically found at the bottom of Window s in a graphical user interface.A status bar is sometimes divided into sections, each of which shows different information....
    • Progress bar
      Progress bar

      A progress bar is a component in a graphical user interface used to convey the progress of a task, such as a download or file transfer. Often, the graphic is accompanied by a textual representation of the progress in a percent format....
    • Infobar
      Infobar

      An infobar is a GUI widget used by Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and other programs to display non-critical information to a user....


  • Containers
    • Window
      Window (computing)

      In computing, a window is a visual area, usually rectangular in shape, containing some kind of user interface, displaying the output of and allowing input for one of a number of simultaneously running computer processes....
      • Modal window
        Modal window

        In user interface design, a modal window is a child window which requires the user to interact with it before they can return to operating the parent application, thus preventing the workflow on the application main window....
      • Dialog box
        Dialog box

        In graphical user interfaces, a dialog box is a special Window , used in user interfaces to display information to the user, or to get a response if needed....
      • Palette window, also known as "Utility window"
        • Inspector window
          Inspector window

          An inspector window is a type of computing window that shows current parameters of a selected object and allows these parameters to be changed on-the-fly....


See also

  • Widget toolkit
    Widget toolkit

    A widget toolkit, widget library, or GUI toolkit is a set of GUI widget for use in designing applications with graphical user interfaces ....
     for the implementations of widget programming interfaces
  • Widget engine
    Widget engine

    In computer software, a widget engine is a software service available to users for running and displaying desktop widgets on the desktop metaphor....
     for mostly unrelated, physically inspired "widgets"
  • Elements of graphical user interfaces
    Elements of graphical user interfaces

    Graphical user interfaces, also known as GUIs, make it easier for people with little computer skills to work with and use computer software. It is a visual front to a piece of software that links the user to the internal workings of a computer, or piece of software....
  • Metawidget
    Metawidget

    With reference to GUI widgets, the term metawidget has been adopted for different purposes. It has been used to describe a 'widget of widgets', a 'widget about widgets' and also a 'widget for metadata'....
    s