Widgets

Widget is a rather unfortunate term, since it has a generic meaning, but it covers a multitude of new technologies based around JavaScript, HTML, and plugin architectures. Unlike Web Browser Extensions, widgets typically work within some other application platform.

Application Platforms

• Yahoo Widgets (formerly Konfabulator)
• Microsoft Gadgets
• Apple MacOS X Dashboard, Download Dashboard Widgets
• Google Sidebar Plugins aresearchpaper
• Google Homepage Modules
• Opera Widgets. Although these depend on libraries from the Opera web browser, they run outside the browser.

Development

JavaScript is a key development technology (programming language) for most widgets, as well as for some Web Browser Extensions.

Microformats - Widget Examples has some useful info.

Great Examples

• Canton Public Library provides widgets for Windows Sidebar, Mac OSX Dashboard, iGoogle, and NetVibes