Wix Blocks: Glossary
12 min read
Wix Blocks is open to all Wix Studio users. To get access to Blocks, join Wix Studio.
In this article, you can find definitions, synonyms, related links, and locations of many terms used within the Wix Blocks environment. Search this page to find the word or phrase you require.
Action Bar
Definition: The floating menu that appears in the Wix Editors when a widget or its elements are clicked.
Related links: Configuring Action Bars
Where: Configuration Tab
Action Buttons
AKA: Action bar button, system button
Definition: The buttons of an action bar.
Related links: Configuring Action Bars
Where: Configuration Tab
App Dependencies
Definition: Other Wix apps that are required for the Blocks app to function on a site.
Where: Top Bar Menu
Backend Code
Definition: Create JavaScript files, web modules, and other files for use in the backend, and organize these files in folders.
Related links: Add code files to your app
Where: Code Tab, Public & Backend
Blocks
Definition: Blocks is an independent Editor where you can create web applications to use on Wix sites.
Related links: Blocks unboxed: a quick tour
Blocks Apps
AKA: Custom Apps
Definition: Responsive, re-usable web apps for use on Wix sites that are built on Blocks, using native Wix elements. Blocks apps can contain both widgets and code, or just one of the two.
Related links: Blocks unboxed: a quick tour
Code Packages
AKA: Velo Packages, Code Libraries, Public & Backend Files
Definition: Code libraries that you can reuse across multiple sites that allow you to add specific functionality to your site. Every app can include code packages and widgets or just one of the two.
Related links: Code Packages
Where: Code Tab, Public & Backend
Collections
AKA: Databases, Database Collections, Content Collections
Definition: A way to store and manage data in your app.
Related links: Collections in Blocks
Where: Collections Tab
Configuration
AKA: Widget Behavior, Editor Experience
Definition: Defining the site creator's experience when interacting with the widget in the Wix Editors. For example, which widget elements can be selected or removed, and what buttons are available in the action bar.
Related links: About Configuration in Blocks
Where in product: Configuration Tab
Configuration File
AKA: config.json
Definition: You can add a config.json file to define settings that affect how the app works on a specific site. These settings typically vary from site to site, so the file you provide contains default settings that you can edit for each site.
Related links: Adding code files to your app
Where: Code Tab, Public & Backend
Connect to theme
Definition: Defining the widget elements so that they connect automatically to the theme of any site the widget is installed on.
Related links: About themes in Blocks
Where: Design Tab, Preview Mode
Consumption
AKA: Installed apps
Definition: The whole experience of using the app in the Editors. Installing it, updating app versions, changing layout, hiding or removing elements etc.
Where in the product: The Wix Editors
Custom Element
Definition: Embed your own custom HTML element into your widget using an external source.
Related links: Adding Custom Elements in Blocks
Where in product: Design Tab
Custom panels
Definition: Panels that were built with the Blocks Panel Builder (as opposed to default ones)
Where: Panels Tab, Configuration Tab
Design Presets
Definition: Different design and layout options for one widget. The functionality remains the same across the different designs.
Related links: About Design Presets, Creating & Managing Design Presets
Where: Design Tab
Display name
Definition: The name of the widget and elements that appears when the widget is added to the Wix Editors. Display names can be defined in the Configuration tab. Note that this is not the Velo Element ID.
Related links: Configuring widget display names and behavior
Where: Configuration Tab, Design Tab
Elements
AKA: Design elements, Components (Internal), UI Elements, Editor Elements
Definition: The basic building blocks of your widget: text elements, buttons, images, user input fields and more.
Related links: Design Elements
Where: Design Tab
Events
Definition: API events can be fired by the widget when a certain condition is met. They can then be caught by event handlers in the site where the widget is installed.
Related links: Adding a New Event to Your Widget
Where: Blocks IDE
Install
Definition: Adding your Blocks app to a Wix site.
Related links: Install a Blocks App on a Site
Where: In the Wix Editors (under Custom Apps)
Major Version
Definition: A "major" version or release of your app is done when you've made bigger, breaking changes to your app that can impact app compatibility wherever the app is installed. This is required for your first real build (not test) and after cases like adding an app dependency for example.
Related links: About App Versions
Where: When Building
Minor Version
Definition: A "minor" version or release is done when you've made small changes to your app that won't break app compatability wherever this app is installed.
Related links: About App Versions
Where: When Building
Multilingual
Definition: The feature used to translate Blocks apps in consumption for use in other languages.
Related links: Translating your app
Where: The App menu
My Apps / My Widgets
AKA: Custom App Widgets
Definition: Any apps you have installed or built with Wix Blocks
Related links: Install a Blocks App on a Site
Where: The Wix Editors
Namespace
AKA: Import name
Definition: A namespace is required for importing the app’s backend and public functions, as well as content collections in the Editors and in the app’s code in Blocks.
Related links: Creating a namespace for your App
Where: In collections, and when building an app.
Panel Builder
AKA: Custom Panel
Definition: The Blocks tool for building custom panels, which is part of the Blocks Editor.
Related links: About custom panels , Designing custom panels.
Where : Panels Tab
Panel Elements
Definition: The UI elements of a custom panel (buttons, dividers, text inputs, etc) that are used to control a widget's or element's settings. These elements are different from the regular Wix elements used in the Wix Editor.
Related links: Adding code to panel elements
Where: Panels Tab
Panels
Definition: The pop-up window that opens when an action bar button is clicked and gives site creators control over a widget or element's settings. For example, when you click Design the design panel opens.
Related links: Configuring action bars
Where: The panels open in the Wix Editors, when a site creator configures the widget
Plugin
Definition: The ability for site creators to add a plugin into a dedicated plugin container (or slot) during consumption. This allows site creators to extend the functionality of their app.
Where: Design Tab
Related terms: Plugin container
Custom Apps
AKA: Blocks apps
Definition: Blocks apps are called Custom Apps in the Wix Editors.
Where: The Wix Editors
Properties
AKA: Props
Definition: Certain choices that the app creator gives to the site creator regarding the widget. The properties can be changed from the widget's Settings panel or from the site's code.
Related links: Working with Widget API Properties
Where: Blocks IDE
Public Code
Definition: Public files contain exported functions that can be imported and called anywhere on a website.
Related links: Add code files to your app
Where: Code Tab, Public & Backend
Public API Functions
Definition: The widget creator can expose API functions that can be called by the code of the page where the widget is added.
Related links: Widget API functions
Where in product: Blocks IDE
Remove and restore elements
AKA: Add, hide, delete
Definition: Site creators can choose which widget elements are displayed on their site using the Add Elements panel, which is available from the action bar.
Where in product: The Editors
Roles & Permissions
AKA: Collaborators
Definition: Giving other Wix users or Teams access to view/edit your app in Blocks and to install it on their Wix sites.
Related links: Manage Collaborators in Blocks
Where: App Menu
Site Creator
Definition: Person who installs and modifies the Blocks app on a Wix Site.
Site themes
AKA: Site Styles
Definition: The color and typography theme on the sites that the Blocks app will be installed on. When designing your app, it's important to connect it to a theme, so` it blends on sites with different themes.
Related links: Site Themes
Where: Design tab
Site Visitor
Definition: The person who uses the Blocks app that's installed on a Wix site.
Test Version
Definition: A test version of your app is used to check functionality of your app before installing it on a live site. Testing is usually done on a test site.
Related links: Manage versions in Blocks (Same as for apps)
Where : When Building
Widget
AKA: UI Widget, App UI
Definition: Widgets build your app's User Interface (UI). They are the part of the app the user interacts with. Usually composed of elements like buttons and input fields, as well as settings panels and action bars. Every app can have several widgets. For example. A booking form widget, countdown timer or a customized menu.
Related links: Blocks widgets
Where: Widgets and Design Menu in Blocks, My Widgets Menu in the Editors Add Panel.
Widget API
Definition: The widget's properties, functions and events, exposed by the app creator and enabling site creators to interact with the widget.
Related links: About your Widget API
Where: Blocks IDE
Widget in Widget
AKA: Internal Widget, Nested Widget
Definition: Two widgets (from the same app) where one is inserted inside the other. Eg. A button widget inside a form widget.
Related links: Creating & Managing Widgets Within Widgets
Where: Widgets and Design Menu
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