<P> "Widget" entered American English around 1920, as a generic term for any useful device, particularly a product manufactured for sale . In computer use it has been borrowed as a shortened form of "window gadget," and was first applied to user interface elements during Project Athena in 1988 . The word was chosen because "all other common terms were overloaded with inappropriate connotations"--since the project's Intrinsics toolkit associated each widget with a window of the underlying X Window System--and because of the common prefix with the word window . </P> <Ul> <Li> Selection and display of collections <Ul> <Li> Button--control which can be clicked upon to perform an action . An equivalent to a push - button as found on mechanical or electronic instruments . <Ul> <Li> Radio button--control which can be clicked upon to select one option from a selection of options, similar to selecting a radio station from a group of buttons dedicated to radio tuning . Radio buttons always appear in pairs or larger groups, and only one option in the group can be selected at a time; selecting a new item from the group's buttons also de-selects the previously selected button . </Li> <Li> Check box--control which can be clicked upon to enable or disable an option . Also called a tick box . The box indicates an "on" or "off" state via a check mark / tick ☑ or a cross ☒ . Can be shown in an intermediate state (shaded or with a dash) to indicate that various objects in a multiple selection have different values for the property represented by the check box . Multiple check boxes in a group may be selected, in contrast with radio buttons . </Li> <Li> Split button--control combining a button (typically invoking some default action) and a drop - down list with related, secondary actions </Li> <Li> Cycle button - a button that cycles its content through two or more values, thus enabling selection of one from a group of items . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Slider--control with a handle that can be moved up and down (vertical slider) or right and left (horizontal slider) on a bar to select a value (or a range if two handles are present). The bar allows users to make adjustments to a value or process throughout a range of allowed values . </Li> <Li> List box--a graphical control element that allows the user to select one or more items from a list contained within a static, multiple line text box . </Li> <Li> Spinner--value input control which has small up and down buttons to step through a range of values </Li> <Li> Drop - down list--A list of items from which to select . The list normally only displays items when a special button or indicator is clicked . </Li> <Li> Menu--control with multiple actions which can be clicked upon to choose a selection to activate <Ul> <Li> Context menu--a type of menu whose contents depend on the context or state in effect when the menu is invoked </Li> <Li> Pie menu--a circular context menu where selection depends on direction </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Menu bar--a graphical control element which contains drop down menus </Li> <Li> Toolbar--a graphical control element on which on - screen buttons, icons, menus, or other input or output elements are placed <Ul> <Li> Ribbon--a hybrid of menu and toolbar, displaying a large collection of commands in a visual layout through a tabbed interface . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Combo box (text box with attached menu or List box)--A combination of a single - line text box and a drop - down list or list box, allowing the user to either type a value directly into the control or choose from the list of existing options . </Li> <Li> Icon--a quickly comprehensible symbol of a software tool, function, or a data file, </Li> <Li> Tree view--a graphical control element that presents a hierarchical view of information </Li> <Li> Grid view or datagrid--a spreadsheet - like tabular view of data that allows numbers or text to be entered in rows and columns . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Navigation <Ul> <Li> Link--Text with some kind of indicator (usually underlining and / or color) that indicates that clicking it will take one to another screen or page . </Li> <Li> Tab--a graphical control element that allows multiple documents or panels to be contained within a single window </Li> <Li> Scrollbar--a graphical control element by which continuous text, pictures, or any other content can be scrolled in a predetermined direction (up, down, left, or right) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Text / value input <Ul> <Li> Text box--(edit field) - a graphical control element intended to enable the user to input text </Li> <Li> Combo box--a graphical control element combining a drop - down list or list box and a single - line editable textbox </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Output <Ul> <Li> Label--text used to describe another widget </Li> <Li> Tooltip--informational window which appears when the mouse hovers over another control </Li> <Li> Balloon help </Li> <Li> Status bar--a graphical control element which poses an information area typically found at the window's bottom </Li> <Li> Progress bar--a graphical control element used to visualize the progression of an extended computer operation, such as a download, file transfer, or installation </Li> <Li> Infobar--a graphical control element used by many programs to display non-critical information to a user </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Container <Ul> <Li> Window--a graphical control element consisting of a visual area containing some of the graphical user interface elements of the program it belongs to <Ul> <Li> Collapsible panel--a panel that can compactly store content which is hidden or revealed by clicking the tab of the widget </Li> <Li> Accordion--a vertically stacked list of items, such as labels or thumbnails where each item can be "expanded" to reveal the associated content </Li> <Li> Modal window--a graphical control element subordinate to an application's main window which creates a mode where the main window can't be used . </Li> <Li> Dialog box--a small window that communicates information to the user and prompts for a response </Li> <Li> Palette window--also known as "Utility window" - a graphical control element which floats on top of all regular windows and offers ready access tools, commands or information for the current application <Ul> <Li> Inspector window--a type of dialog window that shows a list of the current attributes of a selected object and allows these parameters to be changed on the fly </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Frame--a type of box within which a collection of graphical control elements can be grouped as a way to show relationships visually </Li> <Li> Canvas--generic drawing element for representing graphical information </Li> <Li> Cover Flow--an animated, three - dimensional element to visually flipping through snapshots of documents, website bookmarks, album artwork, or photographs . </Li> <Li> Bubble Flow--an animated, two - dimensional element that allows users to browse and interact the entire tree view of a discussion thread . </Li> </Ul> </Li> </Ul> </Li> </Ul> <Li> Selection and display of collections <Ul> <Li> Button--control which can be clicked upon to perform an action . An equivalent to a push - button as found on mechanical or electronic instruments . <Ul> <Li> Radio button--control which can be clicked upon to select one option from a selection of options, similar to selecting a radio station from a group of buttons dedicated to radio tuning . Radio buttons always appear in pairs or larger groups, and only one option in the group can be selected at a time; selecting a new item from the group's buttons also de-selects the previously selected button . </Li> <Li> Check box--control which can be clicked upon to enable or disable an option . Also called a tick box . The box indicates an "on" or "off" state via a check mark / tick ☑ or a cross ☒ . Can be shown in an intermediate state (shaded or with a dash) to indicate that various objects in a multiple selection have different values for the property represented by the check box . Multiple check boxes in a group may be selected, in contrast with radio buttons . </Li> <Li> Split button--control combining a button (typically invoking some default action) and a drop - down list with related, secondary actions </Li> <Li> Cycle button - a button that cycles its content through two or more values, thus enabling selection of one from a group of items . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Slider--control with a handle that can be moved up and down (vertical slider) or right and left (horizontal slider) on a bar to select a value (or a range if two handles are present). The bar allows users to make adjustments to a value or process throughout a range of allowed values . </Li> <Li> List box--a graphical control element that allows the user to select one or more items from a list contained within a static, multiple line text box . </Li> <Li> Spinner--value input control which has small up and down buttons to step through a range of values </Li> <Li> Drop - down list--A list of items from which to select . The list normally only displays items when a special button or indicator is clicked . </Li> <Li> Menu--control with multiple actions which can be clicked upon to choose a selection to activate <Ul> <Li> Context menu--a type of menu whose contents depend on the context or state in effect when the menu is invoked </Li> <Li> Pie menu--a circular context menu where selection depends on direction </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Menu bar--a graphical control element which contains drop down menus </Li> <Li> Toolbar--a graphical control element on which on - screen buttons, icons, menus, or other input or output elements are placed <Ul> <Li> Ribbon--a hybrid of menu and toolbar, displaying a large collection of commands in a visual layout through a tabbed interface . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Combo box (text box with attached menu or List box)--A combination of a single - line text box and a drop - down list or list box, allowing the user to either type a value directly into the control or choose from the list of existing options . </Li> <Li> Icon--a quickly comprehensible symbol of a software tool, function, or a data file, </Li> <Li> Tree view--a graphical control element that presents a hierarchical view of information </Li> <Li> Grid view or datagrid--a spreadsheet - like tabular view of data that allows numbers or text to be entered in rows and columns . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Ul> <Li> Button--control which can be clicked upon to perform an action . An equivalent to a push - button as found on mechanical or electronic instruments . <Ul> <Li> Radio button--control which can be clicked upon to select one option from a selection of options, similar to selecting a radio station from a group of buttons dedicated to radio tuning . Radio buttons always appear in pairs or larger groups, and only one option in the group can be selected at a time; selecting a new item from the group's buttons also de-selects the previously selected button . </Li> <Li> Check box--control which can be clicked upon to enable or disable an option . Also called a tick box . The box indicates an "on" or "off" state via a check mark / tick ☑ or a cross ☒ . Can be shown in an intermediate state (shaded or with a dash) to indicate that various objects in a multiple selection have different values for the property represented by the check box . Multiple check boxes in a group may be selected, in contrast with radio buttons . </Li> <Li> Split button--control combining a button (typically invoking some default action) and a drop - down list with related, secondary actions </Li> <Li> Cycle button - a button that cycles its content through two or more values, thus enabling selection of one from a group of items . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Slider--control with a handle that can be moved up and down (vertical slider) or right and left (horizontal slider) on a bar to select a value (or a range if two handles are present). The bar allows users to make adjustments to a value or process throughout a range of allowed values . </Li> <Li> List box--a graphical control element that allows the user to select one or more items from a list contained within a static, multiple line text box . </Li> <Li> Spinner--value input control which has small up and down buttons to step through a range of values </Li> <Li> Drop - down list--A list of items from which to select . The list normally only displays items when a special button or indicator is clicked . </Li> <Li> Menu--control with multiple actions which can be clicked upon to choose a selection to activate <Ul> <Li> Context menu--a type of menu whose contents depend on the context or state in effect when the menu is invoked </Li> <Li> Pie menu--a circular context menu where selection depends on direction </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Menu bar--a graphical control element which contains drop down menus </Li> <Li> Toolbar--a graphical control element on which on - screen buttons, icons, menus, or other input or output elements are placed <Ul> <Li> Ribbon--a hybrid of menu and toolbar, displaying a large collection of commands in a visual layout through a tabbed interface . </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Combo box (text box with attached menu or List box)--A combination of a single - line text box and a drop - down list or list box, allowing the user to either type a value directly into the control or choose from the list of existing options . </Li> <Li> Icon--a quickly comprehensible symbol of a software tool, function, or a data file, </Li> <Li> Tree view--a graphical control element that presents a hierarchical view of information </Li> <Li> Grid view or datagrid--a spreadsheet - like tabular view of data that allows numbers or text to be entered in rows and columns . </Li> </Ul>

5 types of control that could be programmed on a gui