GADGET File Documentation

Overview

Feature Value
File Extension .gadget
File Type Windows Gadget
Developer Microsoft
Introduction Year 2007
Supported OS Windows Vista, Windows 7
Discontinued 2012
Security Risk High (discontinued due to vulnerabilities)
MIME Type application/x-windows-gadget
Functionality Desktop Widgets
Composition ZIP archive containing web files
Primary Files gadget.xml, HTML, CSS, JavaScript
Main Configuration File gadget.xml
Installation Method Double-click or Windows Sidebar
Localization Support Yes (via XML)
Interactive Yes
Update Mechanism None (manual update required)
Use Cases Clock, CPU Meter, Weather, Calendar
Security Measures Signature verification (partially effective)
Packaging Self-contained archive
Execution Context Runs as a hosted IE WebBrowser control within the Sidebar
Licensing Free