> Markdown version of [Overview](https://vaadin.com/docs/v7/framework/clientsidewidgets/clientsidewidgets-overview). Section index: [llms.txt](https://vaadin.com/docs/v7/framework/llms.txt)

# <a id="clientsidewidgets.overview"></a>Overview

The Vaadin client-side API is based on the Google Web Toolkit. It involves *widgets* for representing the user interface as Java objects, which are rendered as a HTML DOM in the browser. Events caused by user interaction with the page are delegated to event handlers, where you can implement your UI logic.

In general, the client-side widgets come in two categories - basic GWT widgets and Vaadin-specific widgets. The library includes *connectors* for integrating the Vaadin-specific widgets with the server-side components, thereby enabling the server-side development model of Vaadin. The integration is described in ["Integrating with the Server-Side"](https://vaadin.com/docs/v7/framework/gwt/gwt-overview.md#gwt.overview).

The layout of the client-side UI is managed with *panel* widgets, which correspond in their function with layout components in the Vaadin server-side API.

In addition to the rendering API, the client-side API includes facilities for making HTTP requests, logging, accessibility, internationalization, and testing.

For information about the basic GWT framework, please refer to <https://developers.google.com/web-toolkit/overview>.