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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.
Adding widgets
- In the View editor, locate the Top widgets or Bottom widgets section.
- Click + Add Widget.
- Select a widget from the widget picker.
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.
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
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.