widget
n.n. a small piece of software that performs a specific task on a computer screen. You often see them on your desktop or in an app to help you do things like check the weather or play music.
n. a small, self-contained software component that performs a specific function within a larger application or operating system. Often used in the context of desktop environments or web interfaces to provide quick access to tools or data.
I added a weather widget to my home screen.
The developer created a custom widget to allow users to track their daily water intake directly from the lock screen.
Modern operating systems support third-party widgets, enabling users to aggregate various data streams into a single, customizable interface without opening individual applications.
Coined by American playwright George S. Kaufman in 1924 in his play Beggar on Horseback (1924). The preface to the 1924 play credits an earlier German work from 1911 https://digital.ulb.hhu.de/download/pdf/5670231.pdf where there is an actor Elisabeth Wigge.
Blend of window + gadget.