Widgets
Widgets are little chunks of code that are each designed to do a very specific thing. You can use them by creating widget "instances" and the and then adding that instance to your template code with PyroCMS tags.
Using Widgets
If you go to the Add-ons → Widgets section of the control panel, you'll see a list of widgets that are available to use.
To use those widgets, head on over to the Content → Widgets section, where you can creat widget instances and widget areas.
Widget Instances
Widgets store configuration values that you enter on the back end, and a collection of those configuration values is an instance. For example, when you set up an instance of a Google Maps widget, you set what size you want the map, what the map should show, etc. That instance is the re-usable.
Widget Areas
Widget areas are simply groups of widget instances. So, for example, you can have an area of widgets for your blog sidebar that you can arrange in the order that you'd like. Then, that area can be added using a simple tag syntax:
{{ widgets:area slug="sidebar" }}
Setting Up Widgets
The widgets interface has two separate seections: the available widgets on the left, and the widget areas on the right. To create a new area, go into the Area section.
To add a new widget instance to an area, drag it under the area until you see a dotted line area where you can drog the widget.
Then, some configuration form inputs should appear.
Fill those out, and you've got a widget instance!
Using Widget Instances Individually
Once you create an instance, you can use it in your template by specifying the instance id, even if that instance is in a widget area:
{{ widgets:instance id="6"}}