Web Widgets

Web widget is a embeddable piece of code that can be installed and executed within any HTML-based web page.
Widgets may also be known as modules, snippets or plug-ins.

Applications can be integrated within a website by the placement of the small snippet of code. Widgets may be used to enhance the experience of the visitors by providing additional third party functionalities. While the third party sites that provide widgets, use it as a form advertisement or syndication for their sites.

Widgets are now commonplace and are used by bloggers, social network users, auction sites and personal web sites. iGoogle and Netvibes are among the most visited sites that make use of widgets extensively.

Think of all the link counters, advertising banners, flash animations, YouTube videos, Podcast players, calendars, count-down timers, Flickr photo presentations, social bookmarking buttons you have come across. Btw the clock and google search and Digg Top 10 on this blog are widgets I have embedded here :)

If you are looking at hosting some cool widgets on your site check out widgetbox.com, yourminis.com or pageflakes.com.