{"id":11181,"date":"2018-02-01T11:37:52","date_gmt":"2018-02-01T09:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/?p=11181"},"modified":"2023-05-08T16:20:23","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T13:20:23","slug":"wordpress-widgets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themeisle.com\/blog\/wordpress-widgets\/","title":{"rendered":"WordPress Widgets 101: What They Are and How to Use Them"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NOTE:<\/strong> If you’re using the latest version of WordPress and a modern block theme<\/a> (e.g. Raft<\/a>), then WordPress Widgets are no longer relevant for you. Now that full site editing (FSE)<\/a> along with the block editor<\/a> are staples of the WordPress operating system, you can edit the various sections of your site by using the WordPress site editor<\/a>, rather than widgets. However, if you are<\/strong> still using an older version of WordPress then keep reading, because this will be very helpful to you.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

As you begin designing your first WordPress site, there are a few basic features you’ll want to become familiar with. For example, you’ll need to learn how to use default content types such as pages and posts. In addition, it’s essential to understand the ins and outs of WordPress widgets.<\/p>\n

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Widgets are simple elements you can use to build your custom website’s sidebars<\/a> (and potentially other areas, as well). They enable you to easily add text, links, and various types of information to designated areas (determined by your theme). The default WordPress widgets are sufficient for many sites, but you can also download additional options if you’d like.<\/p>\n

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In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about widgets. This includes what they are, how to use them, and what options they provide. Plus, we’ll introduce a few plugins you can use to add even more widgets to your site. Let’s take a look!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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What WordPress widgets are (and how to use them) \ud83d\udd27<\/h2>\n

WordPress is designed to be a beginner-friendly platform that anyone can use. Even if you have few technical skills and no knowledge of coding, WordPress makes it easy to customize your site to fit your needs.<\/p>\n

Widgets are one of the options WordPress provides to make that happen. A widget is a pre-built module that adds a specific feature to your site, such as a search bar or a list of recent posts. It can be placed into one of your site’s ‘widget areas’, which are defined by your theme and are usually located in the sidebars<\/a> and\/or footer.<\/p>\n

Understanding how widgets work is essential, since they are a very simple way to customize your site and include the exact elements you want.
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How to add a widget to your WordPress site<\/h3>\n

To add a widget to your site, you’ll need to log in to your dashboard, then navigate to Appearance \u2192 Widgets<\/em>:<\/p>\n

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Here, you’ll see a list of the default WordPress widgets, each with a title and brief description. On the right, you’ll find one or more designated widget areas, with headers (such as Sidebar<\/em> or Footer<\/em>) to tell you where they’re located. Depending on your theme, there may already be some widgets in these areas.<\/p>\n

To add a new widget, simply click on it and drag it over into a widget area:<\/p>\n

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You can do the reverse to remove widgets from your site. And you can also drag individual widgets up or down to reorder them. That’s it! If you view the front end of your site, you should see the new feature:<\/p>\n

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In addition to the method above, it’s also possible to add widgets to your site using the WordPress Customizer<\/a>. The process is quite similar, just located inside the WordPress Customizer. And the advantage of that approach is that you can see what your widgets will look like on the front end of your site in real time.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, many of the default widgets include various customization options as well. Let’s take a look at some of the most important features you have access to.
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WordPress’ default widget options \ud83d\udcdc<\/h2>\n

Out of the box, WordPress comes with a small but useful collection of widgets. The ones you use will depend on your site’s needs and audience, but there are a few that are worth checking out regardless.<\/p>\n

First up, the Text<\/em> widget is the most versatile of these modules. If you drag one over to your widget area and open it by clicking on the arrow in the top right corner, you’ll see two boxes:<\/p>\n

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There’s a space for a title, then a miniature version of the WordPress editor. Using this widget, you can add nearly anything to your sidebar. This could be simple text, a collection of links, or a media file.<\/p>\n

Next, take a look at the Search<\/em> widget:<\/p>\n

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This module is as simple as they come. The only customization choice here is the title (which is optional). However, this widget is crucial, since it will add a fully functional search bar to your site. Providing visitors with a search feature<\/a> helps them more easily find what they’re looking for.<\/p>\n

Finally, check out the Recent Posts<\/em> widget:<\/p>\n

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As the name suggests, this will add a list of your most recently published posts to your widget area. This is a smart way to encourage visitors to explore your latest content. You can add a custom title, configure how many posts will be displayed (up to ten), and decide whether to display each post’s date.<\/p>\n

We recommend taking some time to look through the rest of the basic widget options<\/a>. You’ll find that they provide a lot of flexibility. If you want even more choices, though, there are some handy plugins that can help you out.
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How to expand your widget selection \u2795<\/h2>\n