What is a Widget?

A Widget is just a fancy word for tools or content that you can add to the sidebar of your blog. They are an easy way to add functionality and information to the front end of your blog.

Widgets can typically be placed on the Sidebar, the section to the left or right of where your posts are displayed. Widget areas depend on your theme and may also be at the bottom or top sections of your blog and enabled/disabled through your themes options.

Widgets can be used for a whole range of different things, from adding functionality such as a contact form or allowing users to log in/out, displaying information such as recent posts and comments, or static information and links. These widgets will be displayed on all your posts and pages so it’s a good way to provide information or navigation links that may be needed throughout your readers visit. By default your blog comes with a number of widgets enabled.

To manage Widgets click the link in the Admin Interface.

Widgets are managed through the widget page under the Appearance section of your blogs dashboard.

Manage Widgets Page

The Widgets page is broken up into 3 areas.

Available Widgets, which shows the widgets that are not currently in use on your blog and can be added.

Primary Widget Area, displays the widgets that are currently active on your blog.

Additional Widget Areas, are other areas on your blog where widgets can be placed such as the header or footer.

Adding a Widget

You can add a widget the sidebar by dragging it from Available Widgets to a particular Widget Area.

Move the mouse over the widget on the left, holding down the left mouse button move the widget over to the Widget Area on the right, then release the left mouse button.

Editing a Widget

To edit the properties of a widget such as Title and various options, click on the down arrow next to the widgets name, make the changes, then save.

Re-ordering Widgets

You can change the order that the widgets are displayed in by dragging and dropping them. Hover over an active widget, holding down the left mouse button move it above or below another widget, then release the mouse.