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Component vs Widget - What's the difference?

component | widget |

As nouns the difference between component and widget

is that component is a smaller, self-contained part of a larger entity. Often refers to a manufactured object that is part of a larger device while widget is a placeholder name for an unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product.

As an adjective component

is making up a larger whole; as a component word.

component

English

(wikipedia component)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A smaller, self-contained part of a larger entity. Often refers to a manufactured object that is part of a larger device.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=September-October, author= Katie L. Burke
    • , magazine=(American Scientist), title= In the News , passage=Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:

    Derived terms

    * componentless

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Making up a larger whole; as a component word.
  • Made up of smaller complete units in combination; as a component stereo.
    • ----

    widget

    English

    (widget)

    Etymology 1

    Coined by George S. Kaufman in his play Beggar on Horseback (1924).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A (placeholder name) for an unnamed, unspecified, or hypothetical manufactured good or product.
  • :Suppose we have a widget factory that produces 100 units per year...
  • Portable code that can be easily installed and executed by an end user.
  • A floating device inside a beer can, meant to create foam when opened.
  • A small scraping tool consisting of a blade and a handle, commonly used to remove paint from glass and other smooth surfaces
    • Synonyms
    * (unspecified manufactured good) thingy, gizmo, sprocket * (scraping tool) scraper

    Etymology 2

    Borrowed as a shortened form of “window gadget” (GUI widget)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (computing, graphical user interface) Any one of the components of a computer application's graphical user interface, such as a Cancel button or text input box that a user interacts with.
    • Synonyms
    * (GUI) control