WordPress Widgets add content and features to your Sidebars. Examples are the default widgets that come with WordPress; for post categories, tag clouds, navigation, search, etc. Many plugins add their own widgets as well.
Widgets require no code experience or expertise. They can be added, removed, and rearranged on the WordPress Administration Appearance > Widgets panel. The order and placement is set by the WordPress Theme in the functions.php file.
Some WordPress Widgets offer customization and options such as forms to fill out, includes or excludes of data and information, optional images, and other customization features.
Plugins that come bundled with widgets can be found in the WordPress Plugin Directory.
Activating Widgets
The Widget menu will only appear if your Theme has active widgetized sidebars. If it does, you can add widgets by:
- Go to Appearance > Widgets.
- Choose a Widget and drag it to the sidebar where you wish it to appear. There might be more than one sidebar option, so begin with the first one. Once in place, WordPress automatically updates the Theme.
- To arrange the Widgets within the sidebar or Widget area, click and drag it into place.
- To customize the Widget features, click the down arrow in the upper right corner to expand the Widget’s interface.
- To save the Widget’s customization, click Save.
- To remove the Widget, click Remove or Delete.
If you change WordPress Themes, the Widgets will return to the left side of the page in the Widget Archives or Available Widgets list. You may need to add them again and rearrangement depending upon the Theme’s ability to preserve other Theme’s Widgets.
Pre-Packaged Widgets
WordPress comes right out of the box with a handful of pre-packaged widgets you can use.
- The RSS Widget
- the Text Widget
- the Custom Menu Widget
- the Meta Widget
- the Archives Widget
- the Calendar Widget
- the Search Widget
- the Tag Cloud Widget
- the Categories Widget
Custom Widgets
Many plugins and themes will come with custom widgets. There are WAY too many of them to mention, but try searching at the top of this page for the widget name and you very well may find it.