No matter if you are beginner or developer, WordPress widgets are immensely helpful for everyone creating a website in WordPress. They come in the form of handy tools that make it easy to customize a WP based website. Unquestionably, WordPress widgets are one of the best features of WordPress.
In general terms, a widget is a small application with limited functionality that can be installed and executed within a web page by a user. Similarly, a WordPress widget is a small standalone piece of code that adds some specific type of content or functionality to your website.
To make it clearer, here is a definition:
For example, Archives, Categories, Search, Tag Cloud, etc. are some of the WordPress widgets that are available in every WordPress installation by default.
There are specific locations designed in the themes where widgets can be placed. Such areas are called widget areas. Sidebars are the most common widget areas as provided by default WordPress themes. However, they are not limited to the sidebars anymore. The widget areas may occur in the footer, header or anywhere on the website.
WordPress Sidebar Widgets
Most common location for WordPress widgets are sidebars which is why they are often called ‘WordPress Sidebar Widgets’ synonymously. Almost all the WordPress themes allow using widgets in the sidebars where you can use default WordPress widgets or custom made theme or plugin widgets.
The widget areas may vary depending on the theme you are using. Most of the themes these days are widget ready. Several in-built widgets are provided along with many widget areas in such themes. Besides, widgets also come with WordPress plugins.
Nowadays, there are many themes which are fully widgetized allowing users to add widgets in most parts of the theme. Such themes are created with support to page builder plugins. Most of the page builder plugins come with a bundle of widgets, also called modules/ content modules. Page builders let you add the available widgets in the pages or posts and create completely new design/ structure of a website.
For example, you can take a look at our Flash theme which is completely widget-based theme. The theme is built in with SiteOrigin’s page builder plugin and a companion plugin called Flash Toolkit which is a bundle of some awesome widgets.
How to add Widgets to WordPress?
WordPress widgets are not the separate components but the parts of a theme or plugins. Therefore, installing a theme and plugins are complete enough to install widgets. There is no other procedure required to install widgets. Working with widgets is really easy.
To see the available widgets, you should go to the WordPress dashboard and in the Appearance menu, there is ‘Widgets‘. You must drag and drop the widgets to the available widget areas. Therefore the widgets are also called drag and drop widgets. It is the conventional way of adding widgets.
As shown in the image above, Widgets can be found inside ‘Customize‘ in latest Customizer-based WordPress themes. You can easily add, reorder the widgets with live previews from the Customizer.
Best WordPress Widgets worth Checking Out in 2017
As I stated earlier, WordPress widgets come along with WordPress themes or WordPress plugins. They are created with specific functionality, feature or content in mind. Most of the widgets are specifically developed in feature specific plugins; for example, social icon widget and social sharing widget may be available in a Social media plugin.
Besides, there are some widget bundle plugins targeted to empower a specific theme, a specific type of website, or a page builder plugin. For example:
1) Flash Toolkit Plugin
A WordPress plugin which contains 12 custom widgets to empower Flash Theme. The widgets can be used to build multipurpose websites including business website, one-page website, construction, food and restaurant website etc.
Some of the widgets available in Flash Toolkit are:
- FT: About – About Us Section
- FT: Service Widget
- FT: Testimonial Widget
- FT: Team Widget
- FT: Slider
- FT: Animated Number Counter etc.
Learn More and Download Plugin
2) SiteOrigin Widget Bundle
A WordPress plugin which contains 20 useful widgets to work with Page Builder by SiteOrigin. The widgets are very useful for creating a business website or various types of websites.
Some of the widgets available in the Widget Bundle are:
- Google Maps
- Call-to-action Buttons
- Testimonials
- Image slider
- Pricing table widget etc.
Learn More and Download Plugin
Similarly, there are several amazing WordPress widgets available on the web which are incredibly useful. I will mention some of the most popular types of WordPress widgets and the best ones in this post here.
WordPress calendar widgets
1. All-in-One Event Calendar
All-in-One Event Calendar is one of the popular WordPress calendar plugins with over 100,000 active installs. It provides you a beautiful way to list your events in a WordPress website. It comes with a widget ‘Upcoming Events’ which can be added in all the available widget areas of your WordPress theme.
Learn More and Download Plugin
WordPress social media widgets
1. Social Icons
Social Icons is a simple yet powerful social media plugin for WordPress. It is a free plugin that supports more than 100 social icons. As you install the plugin, you’ll get a widget ‘Social Icons’. The widget can be placed anywhere in the available widget areas provided by your theme.
Learn More and Download Plugin
2. WP Twitter feeds
WP Twitter feeds is a simple WordPress widget plugin which lets you add your latest tweets on your WordPress website. It is very easy to customize this plugin.
Adding your Twitter feeds helps your site become more engaging as well as earn more new Twitter followers.
Learn More and Download Plugin
Want more social media plugins? Check out our collection of top 5 WordPress social media plugins.
WordPress Facebook widgets
1. Simple Facebook Plugin
Simple Facebook Plugin is a good alternative to the Facebook Widget mentioned above. It provides a simple way to embed your Facebook page on your WordPress website.
The plugin allows the website visitors to like, share your WordPress page without having to leave your site.
Learn More and Download Plugin
Another WordPress Widget Worth Having
1. WordPress Testimonial Widget – Testimonials Widget
Testimonials Widget is a free WordPress plugin which lets you add customer testimonials easily on your WordPress website. You can display a list of reviews or slide reviews via widgets. Besides, you can add testimonials via functions and shortcodes.
This plugin provides a better way to showcase what your customers/ clients say about your products or services.
Learn More and Download Plugin
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, WordPress widgets are the game changers making WordPress even easier. As stated in WordPress Codex, Widgets require no code experience or expertise. They can be added, removed and rearranged on the Theme Customizer or Widgets option in Appearance menu. They provide a simple and beautiful way to customizing the website, pages, and posts.
Was it useful?
Let us know if you have any additions to the widgets mentioned above.
If you want more WordPress plugins/ widgets, view our list of the best WordPress plugins.