Google gadgets are small modules of functionality (e.g. a clock, a
game, etc.) that can be added to Blogger blogs, Google’s personalized
iGoogle pages, and other places on the web. You can even add them to
your own website. Most users of Blogger are familiar with at least three
of these objects. The default list of Blogger templates automatically
come with Followers, Blog Archive, and About Me gadgets installed. The
Followers gadget allows people to connect themselves to blogs by signing
on as followers. The Blog Archive gadget displays old blog posts. The
About Me gadget displays a blogger’s profile.

There are hundreds
of thousands of gadgets that have been developed and made publicly
available. Google has a directory of gadgets that can be added to your
Blogger site or to a website hosted outside of Blogger. It’s obvious
that Google promotes the development of new gadgets. They have even
developed an extensive programming interface to allow independent web
developers to tap in to their system.

What is a Google Gadget?

Google
gadgets are made up ultimately of an XML file, which gives instructions
to Google regarding the configuration of your gadget. To submit a
gadget to Google, you simply enter the URL of the location where your
gadget XML file exists and click submit. Google finds your gadget,
verifies that it works correctly, and then adds your gadget to its
database so that it can be presented to millions of gadget users across
the Internet.

Gadgets can be as simple as a line of text, as in the following “Hello, world” example:

On the
other hand, gadgets can be complicated pieces of JavaScript code that
run Flash applications and interact with databases. The complexity of
your gadget determines to some extent its usefulness. Depending upon
your intentions for developing a gadget, you may need to improve your
JavaScript, Flash, and other programming skills. If you create an
appealing gadget and submit it to be included in Google’s directory, it
could mean a lot of traffic for your website.

Google publishes a fair amount of technical information to help
gadget developers. You can read more information about developing
gadgets at Google’s gadget page: http://code.google.com/apis/gadgets/