# Creating a new widget

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You are reading the **NextGen Documentation**

**NextGen widgets** are a new and improved way to display UGC content onsite. 

From September 23rd 2025, all new widgets created will be NextGen.

Please check your widget version on the **Widget List page** to see if it is a **Classic** or **NextGen** widget.

You can read the [Classic Widget Documentation](https://docs.nosto.com/ugc/guides/onsite-widgets) here.

**Note: This feature is unique to NextGen widgets**
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The `loadWidget` function is used to initialise and configure a widget in your application. It takes an optional `settings` object as a parameter, which allows you to customise the widget's behavior.

Please utilise the guides below to understand what customisations are supported more specifically

{% content-ref url="creating-a-new-widget/features" %}
[features](https://docs.nosto.com/ugc/guides/widgets-nextgen/widget-creation-guides/creating-your-first-widget/creating-a-widget-from-blank-canvas-developer-guide/creating-a-new-widget/features)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="creating-a-new-widget/event-listeners" %}
[event-listeners](https://docs.nosto.com/ugc/guides/widgets-nextgen/widget-creation-guides/creating-your-first-widget/creating-a-widget-from-blank-canvas-developer-guide/creating-a-new-widget/event-listeners)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="creating-a-new-widget/templates" %}
[templates](https://docs.nosto.com/ugc/guides/widgets-nextgen/widget-creation-guides/creating-your-first-widget/creating-a-widget-from-blank-canvas-developer-guide/creating-a-new-widget/templates)
{% endcontent-ref %}