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Original · left

Widget (gadget)

A placeholder name for any small manufactured gadget.

First in use: the 1920s
Duplicate · right

Widget (GUI)

A reusable interface element, such as a button, slider or home-screen panel.

First in use: the 1980s

Widget / Widget (gadget) / Widget (GUI)

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

A generic gadget vs. a UI control.

Which meaning of Widget is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Widget (gadget) came first (the 1920s). Widget (GUI) arrived in the 1980s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Widget (gadget)Widget (GUI)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1920s

Widget (gadget)

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Duplicate · the 1980s

Widget (GUI)

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More duplicated terms

Design & UX