--- title: "What are View widgets useful for?" date: 2026-04-23 author: "GravityKit" link: "https://www.gravitykit.com/docs/gravityview/getting-started-gravityview/what-are-view-widgets-useful-for/" --- # GravityView widgets guide Widgets enhance your View by adding tools that help visitors search, filter, paginate, and navigate through entries. Widgets appear above or below your entry listings and are a key part of creating a usable, interactive View. This guide explains where widgets can be placed, how to add them, and what each available widget does. > **Note:** Widgets are available in the Multiple Entries layout. --- ## Widget placement You can add widgets to two locations in the Multiple Entries layout: - **Top widgets** – Displayed above the entries list - **Bottom widgets** – Displayed below the entries list Each widget area supports three placement options: - **Top** – Full-width - **Left** – Left column - **Right** – Right column This allows you to place widgets side-by-side or span the full width of the View. ![Screenshot: View editor showing top and bottom widget areas](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/file-KJiQ9mxPMA.png)--- ## Adding widgets - In the View editor, locate the **Top widgets** or **Bottom widgets** section. - Click **+ Add Widget**. - Select a widget from the widget picker. ![Screenshot: Widget picker modal](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/file-bvv9elCflW.png) *You can drag widgets within an area to reorder them, or remove them at any time* --- ## Widget examples Widgets are configured in the View editor and displayed on the front end of your site for visitors to use. ![Screenshot: Widgets configured in the View editor (backend)](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/file-qSqvjtir3W.png) *Widgets configured in the View editor (backend)!*[Screenshot: Widgets displayed above and below entries on the front end](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/file-0EOfsspBdj.png)Widgets displayed above and below entries on the front end--- ## Core widgets Core widgets are included with GravityView and are available on all supported licenses. ### Search Bar Adds a search form that allows visitors to filter entries. **What it does** Provides a customizable search interface with multiple search field types. **Configuration options** - Add multiple search fields - Include built-in search fields or form-specific fields - Organize fields into rows and columns - Add Advanced Search fields that visitors can toggle on or off ![Screenshot: Search Bar widget settings](https://www.gravitykit.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/file-C2ejBbBOnv.png)**Built-in search fields** | Field | Description | |---|---| | Search everything | Searches across all entry fields | | Search mode | Match **All** or **Any** search criteria | | Submit button | Executes the search | | Entry date | Filter by entry submission date | | Entry ID | Search by a specific entry ID | | Entry creator | Filter by the user who created the entry | | Is starred | Filter starred entries | | Is read | Filter read or unread entries | | Approval status | Filter by approval status | --- ### Page Links Displays pagination links for navigating between pages of results. **What it does** Shows numbered links (1, 2, 3…) so visitors can jump to specific result pages. **When to use** Use this widget when your View displays many entries and you want clear page navigation. --- ### Show pagination info Displays a summary of the current results. **What it does** Shows text such as `Displaying entries 1–25 of 100` to indicate where visitors are in the results. **When to use** Pair with the **Page Links** widget to give visitors helpful context. --- ### Page size Allows visitors to control how many entries are shown per page. **What it does** Displays a dropdown where visitors can choose how many entries to show (for example, 10, 25, 50, or 100). **When to use** Use this widget when visitors may want more or fewer results visible at once. --- ### Custom content Adds custom text or HTML to your View. **What it does** Displays text, HTML, shortcodes, or merge tags that you define. **Common use cases** - Add instructions or explanatory text - Display dynamic content using merge tags - Insert custom HTML or formatting --- ## Add-on widgets Add-on widgets are available when specific GravityView extensions are installed. ### Calendar (GravityView Calendar) Displays entries in a calendar layout. **What it does** Shows entries based on a date field, allowing visitors to browse entries by day, week, or month. > **Requires:** GravityView Calendar Add-On --- ### Gravity Forms Displays a Gravity Forms form inside your View. **What it does** Embeds a form directly in the widget area, allowing visitors to submit new entries without leaving the View. --- ### Export link (DataTables) Adds a link for downloading View results. **What it does** Allows visitors to export the current (filtered) results as a CSV or TSV file. > **Requires:** GravityView DataTables --- ## Best practices - **Place search widgets prominently** – The Search Bar is typically placed in the top widget area. - **Group pagination tools** – Place **Page Links** and **Show pagination info** together for a clean layout. - **Only add what you need** – Too many widgets can overwhelm visitors. - **Test responsive layouts** – Check widget placement on smaller screens. --- ## Default widget configuration When you create a new Table View, GravityView automatically adds: - **Search Bar** in the top widget area - **Show pagination info** in the left area - **Page Links** in the right area (top and bottom) You can remove, reorder, or replace these widgets at any time. --- ## Summary Widgets are essential for creating a polished, user-friendly GravityView. By combining search, pagination, and custom content widgets, you can turn a simple entry list into an interactive experience that visitors can easily explore and filter. Start with the default widgets and adjust them to match your specific use case.