What is a widget? WordPress widgets are independent elements of a website. They add functionality to a sidebar, footer or other part of a website.
Widgets include latest comments, article archive, latest posts list, category list, tag list, tag cloud, text widget, image, gallery, search form, calendar, navigation menu, HTML code, RSS and many others .
The options for adding them vary depending on the specific template and plugins you use. For example, in my blog they are used in the sidebar:
Where to find WordPress widgets?
You can find the list of available widgets in the WordPress administration menu under Appearance . On the left half of the page is a list of them and on the right is a list of areas of your template where you can use them.
How to add a widget in WordPress?
You insert the selected widget into the side panel by grabbing it with the mouse and dragging it to the selected place. You can also click on the widget with the mouse and then choose where you want to insert it.
After it is created, a window will open with options for setting it up. Click Save to save the settings. If you wish to remove the widget, click Delete .
You can also manage widgets with a live view of the page. You can do so by clicking the Manage with Live Preview button at the top of the page.
You can find more information in this official WP tutorial .
