Where to add a widget class?

Question

Where do we add our custom widget? I keep on getting internal errors, I tried to add the class in wp_content > plugins, or wp_includes > widgets, but I get an internal error.

The class is simple, inside "My_Widget.php" :

<?php
/*
  Plugin Name: My_Widget
  Description: my widet description
  Author: Author
 */
class My_Widget extends WP_Widget {

    /**
     * Sets up the widgets name etc
     */
    public function __construct() {
        $widget_ops = array( 
            'class_name' => 'my_widget',
            'description' => 'My Widget is awesome',
        );
        parent::__construct( 'my_widget', 'My Widget', $widget_ops );
    }

    /**
     * Outputs the content of the widget
     *
     * @param array $args
     * @param array $instance
     */
    public function widget( $args, $instance ) {
        // outputs the content of the widget
    }

    /**
     * Outputs the options form on admin
     *
     * @param array $instance The widget options
     */
    public function form( $instance ) {
        // outputs the options form on admin
    }

    /**
     * Processing widget options on save
     *
     * @param array $new_instance The new options
     * @param array $old_instance The previous options
     */
    public function update( $new_instance, $old_instance ) {
        // processes widget options to be saved
    }
}

Then in my functions.php :

register_widget( 'My_Widget' );

Answer 1

I copied the class definition and register_widget( 'My_Widget' ); to my theme's functions.php file & it did show My Widget under Appearance > Widgets. So please place this code directly in your theme's functions.php file. It is not recommended to edit anything in wp-includes directory.

Answer 2

You have 2way to active your class .

1. you can create a folder inside plugins folder ...

2. you can include in functions.php like as Bellow

   require_once(get_template_directory().'My_Widget.php');