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Understanding SharePoint Web Parts

Microsoft has produced a host of great tools that enable their users to perform several functions. One of those tools is the Microsoft SharePoint platform that can be used to design intranet web pages using templates and Microsoft SharePoint web parts. When these features are combined to create a website, its basic functionality is enhanced a great deal.

SharePoint web parts are various components that together with Microsoft SharePoint help execute functions on a website. For instance, web parts can be used to create bespoke intranet content, make changes in the overall page layout and adjust scripts through a web interface.

You cannot create a SharePoint web page or make adjustments to it without the aid of SharePoint web parts. In this post, we are going to look at the various SharePoint web parts and the key roles they play in a SharePoint website.

Categories of SharePoint web parts

The different SharePoint web parts on the Microsoft SharePoint platform perform different functions and have been categorized based on the purpose they accomplish. You can read this VirtoSoftware post which explains the various SharePoint web parts that can help customize your web page. The different SharePoint web parts on Microsoft SharePoint include:

1.     Content roll-up web parts

These web parts can be used to check out the active content on a SharePoint website. For instance, you can use the picture library slide show web part to display the images that have been embedded in a web page in a slideshow form. There is also the content query web part which can be utilized to query content from any part of a website.

2.     Lists and libraries web parts

These web parts help store the details including the names or the identity of the various sources where data used to create a web page was acquired. Examples of these web parts include the SharePoint calendar web part that displays the calendar and announcements web part that shows announcements. These web parts can be added to various SharePoint web parts to help display any information you query including any alterations that have been made.

3.     Media content web parts

These web parts play a key role in displaying the media content on a page including pictures, videos, and text. In addition, these web parts can also be used to add media content to a web page including text, pictures, and videos. The content editor web part for instance can be used to add tables, hyperlinks, and texts that have been formatted for a SharePoint website. The image viewer web page can also be used to either view images or add new images to a web page.

4.     Business data web parts

These web parts help display data and information from different databases. If you want to view information or data from an external database, the business list web part can help you do that.

Custom web parts

Apart from the web parts that have been created by Microsoft SharePoint, users can also create their own custom web parts to help improve the functionality of a page. VirtoSoftware is one of the leading designers of custom web parts for pages that can be easily integrated into a SharePoint web page. Their web parts are broad but help to create a much better page with enhanced features and security.