widget

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.

[Jargon File]