What's the difference between a widget and an app?

**TheBundo** · #1 (**permalink**) 05-31-2010, 08:43 PM

It seems the end result is the same, no matter what you call it. You get an icon with both, and pressing on that icon causes the program to do its thing. What is the difference, or benefit to either?

**themuffinman** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-31-2010, 08:44 PM

I would say a widget is a shortcut basically.

**apristel** · #3 (**permalink**) 05-31-2010, 08:46 PM

Widgets can provide some info or functionality on your homescreen...like you can have a weather widget on your homescreen that can show the current weather, but then clicking on the widget you may be brought to the full blown weather app.

**TheBundo** · #4 (**permalink**) 05-31-2010, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apristel

Widgets can provide some info or functionality on your homescreen...like you can have a weather widget on your homescreen that can show the current weather, but then clicking on the widget you may be brought to the full blown weather app.

Got it, thanks

**zone23** · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2010, 09:11 PM

I maybe wrong about this but widgets are mainly XML code. Apps are like C# code with DLLs and stuff.

**Cicatrize** · #6 (**permalink**) 06-01-2010, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zone23

I maybe wrong about this but widgets are mainly XML code. Apps are like C# code with DLLs and stuff.

C# is Microsoft, and so are DLLs. lol

Android apps are coded in Java.

EDIT: DLL's are technically only MS, but I think you can use them on Linux too.