A Google Gadget is usually a very small XML file which contains a combination of javascript, html and stylesheet definitions. For more information visit the Google Gadget developer guide. The BonstioNet visitor map page is an example of a gadget embedded in a webpage. This can also be added to an iGoogle page. More examples of gadgets can be found in the BonstioNet gadget portfolio.

A Google Gadget Ad is a special kind of Google Gadget which is also able to appear in the Internet's largest ad network, Google Adsense / Adwords.