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.
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Jargon File]
