1. A meta-thing. Used to stand for a real object in didactic
examples (especially database tutorials). Legend has it that
the original widgets were holders for buggy whips. "But
suppose the parts list for a widget has 52 entries..."
2. [possibly evoking "window gadget"] In graphical user
interfaces, a combination of a graphic symbol and some program
code to perform a specific function. E.g. a scroll-bar or
button. Windowing systems usually provide widget libraries
containing commonly used widgets drawn in a certain style and
with consistent behaviour.