# Dashboard

> macOS dashboard system featuring programmable widgets

**Wikidata**: [Q1171872](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1171872)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboard_(macOS))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dashboard

## Summary
Dashboard is a macOS dashboard system featuring programmable widgets developed by Apple Inc. It allows users to run small applications called widgets on their Mac desktop, providing quick access to information and tools without opening full applications.

## Key Facts
- Dashboard is a software widget system for macOS developed by Apple Inc.
- It allows users to run small applications (widgets) directly on their desktop
- Dashboard was developed by Apple Inc., the American multinational technology company founded in 1976
- The official website for Dashboard widgets is https://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/
- Dashboard has aliases including "Dashboard (Software)", ".wdgt", "Wdgt", "数据表盘", and "Apple Dashboard"
- Dashboard is categorized as software and as a software widget
- Its Wikipedia title is "Dashboard (macOS)"
- Dashboard has been translated into 10 languages: de, en, es, fi, fr, it, ja, ko, nl, no
- The official logo can be found at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Dashboard_OS_X.svg

## FAQs
### Q: What is Dashboard in macOS?
A: Dashboard is a macOS feature that displays small applications called widgets that float above the desktop, providing quick access to information and tools without opening full applications.

### Q: How do I access Dashboard on macOS?
A: Dashboard can be accessed using Dashboard-specific keyboard shortcuts (various depending on macOS version), or by swiping right from the left edge of the screen on trackpads in newer macOS versions.

### Q: Can I create my own Dashboard widgets?
A: Yes, Dashboard supports programmable widgets that can be created using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, with the .wdgt file extension for widget packages.

### Q: Is Dashboard still available in current versions of macOS?
A: Dashboard was officially deprecated starting with macOS 10.14 Mojave and is no longer available in recent versions of macOS.

## Why It Matters
Dashboard represented Apple's early approach to desktop widget computing, providing users with at-a-glance information access in an era before smartphones dominated quick information retrieval. It popularized the concept of lightweight desktop applications that could run alongside full programs, influencing later widget implementations across platforms. For power users, Dashboard became a productivity tool for monitoring data, controlling media playback, accessing quick calculations, and performing other frequent tasks without application switching. While ultimately discontinued, Dashboard was part of Apple's broader ecosystem of user interface innovations that contributed to the company's reputation for intuitive computing.

## Notable For
- One of the first mainstream widget systems on a major desktop operating system
- Featured programmable widgets built with web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript)
- Supported a dedicated widget ecosystem with thousands of third-party widgets
- Allowed widgets to overlay the active desktop rather than requiring a separate Dashboard space
- Pioneered the concept of context-aware widgets that could provide relevant information based on user activity

## Body
### Overview
Dashboard is a software widget system for macOS developed by Apple Inc. It was designed to provide users with small, specialized applications that could run directly on the desktop, delivering quick access to information and tools without requiring full applications to be opened.

### Technical Details
- **File extension**: Dashboard widgets use the .wdgt or Wdgt file extension
- **Technology**: Widgets are built using web technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- **Development**: Programmers can create custom widgets for Dashboard
- **Access**: Originally accessible via keyboard shortcuts or by swiping on trackpads in later versions
- **Compatibility**: Worked across multiple versions of macOS before deprecation

### Widget Categories
Dashboard supported a variety of widget types including:
- Information widgets (weather, calendar, stocks)
- Tools (calculators, unit converters, sticky notes)
- Entertainment (games, media controllers)
- Productivity (to-do lists, timers, monitors)

### History and Evolution
Dashboard was introduced as part of Mac OS X Tiger in 2005. It received several updates over the years with additional features and refinements. However, Apple began phasing out Dashboard starting with macOS 10.14 Mojave in 2018, eventually removing it entirely in subsequent versions as Apple shifted focus to other interface elements like Notification Center and Today View.

### Related Technologies
Dashboard shares conceptual similarities with:
- macOS Notification Center (which replaced some Dashboard functionality)
- iOS widgets (which evolved from Dashboard concepts)
- Other widget systems like Yahoo! Widgets (formerly Konfabulator)

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Dashboard",
  "description": "macOS dashboard system featuring programmable widgets",
  "url": "https://www.apple.com/downloads/dashboard/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q206855",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashboard_(macOS)"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Software",
  "creator": "Apple Inc.",
  "applicationCategory": "Widget"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013