Have you ever visited a SharePoint site and asked yourself why certain intranets seem vibrant, interactive, and user friendly, whereas others resemble a stagnant web page with disjointed information on them? The distinction usually hinges on a single building block: SharePoint Web Parts. Such modular elements define the presentation of information, employee’s interaction with content, and the extent to which your intranet will facilitate collaboration. Regardless of whether you control HR portals, IT support hubs, financial dashboards, or project sites, learning to master web parts is important.

But with multiple categories, modern and classic versions, customization options, and strategic choices around building or buying, identifying the right web parts can feel overwhelming. That is exactly why this guide exists: to help you understand the landscape and evaluate capabilities. For organizations with advanced requirements, our SharePoint consultants can help assess options and recommend the right components.

1. Understanding SharePoint Web Parts: What They Are and How They Work

To explore SharePoint web parts effectively, it helps to first understand the foundational concept behind them:

SharePoint Web Parts are modular interface components that define the manner in which information is presented, consumed, and interacted with on a SharePoint page. Microsoft itself describes these as "page building blocks" with the ability to "add text, images, files, video, dynamic content, and more."

SharePoint Web Parts enable administrators, designers, and business users to build intranet pages by integrating dynamic content components, including lists, documents, dashboards, links, conversations, calendars, and built-in data. Web parts are placed on portions of the pages and absorb information on the SharePoint lists, libraries, Microsoft 365 applications, and external systems via APIs or connectors.

The web parts developed today are based on the SharePoint Framework (SPFx), which allows configuring them intuitively, using responsive layouts, and integrating well with the rest of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Older ASP.NET technology is the one that is used in classic web parts, and it is more stable but less flexible. Essentially, the web parts make SharePoint more than a mere content storage site, but rather a smart and interactive digital workplace.

2. Types of SharePoint Web Parts: Modern vs Classic Explained

In order to see the difference between web parts in different SharePoint generations, the following breakdown can be used to explain the functions of web parts.

Modern Web Parts

The modern web parts facilitate cloud-first intranet design. They have responsive designs, better performance, and simple configuration with less technical work. Their architecture is compatible with Microsoft 365 applications such as Teams, Outlook, Planner, Loops, Viva Connections, and Power BI. The SharePoint Framework allows developers to build their own solutions based on the requirements of the organization.
Classic Web Parts

Classic web parts are the predecessors of the SharePoint versions that were developed earlier and operate on ASP.NET pages. They are compatible with old sites and also have features that old users of SharePoint would be used to. They are, however, not commonly responsive, need more complicated set-ups, and are less flexible to modern integration patterns. Although it is efficient in maintaining older environments, the modern web parts are a standard of choice in new implementations.

Category	Web Part	Purpose	Key Features	Ideal Use Cases
Content Display	Text Web Part Hero Web Part Image / Image Gallery	Display formatted written content Highlight key content visually Show single or grouped images	Rich text, headings, lists, media embedding Tiles, images, responsive layout Carousel, grid, captions	Policies, instructions, announcements Campaigns, onboarding, spotlight content Visual storytelling, project showcases
Communication & Engagement	News Web Part Viva Engage or Yammer	Publish announcements and updates Add social conversation feeds	Targeting, filtering, custom layouts Interactive posts and engagement	Leadership updates, company news Enterprise communities, cultural engagement
Navigation & Productivity	Quick Links Navigation Web Part	Provide shortcuts to key resources Allow dynamic site navigation	Icons, tiles, buttons, grid options Hierarchical links	Tools, forms and system access Department or hub navigation
Data & Information	List Web Part Document Library Web Part Highlighted Content Search Web Parts	Display SharePoint lists Display document collections Auto-discover relevant content Enable content search inside SharePoint	Filters, sorting, conditional formatting Metadata, preview, sorting Rules, filters and dynamic sources Microsoft Search integration	Tasks, registers, requests, tracking SOPs, templates, shared documents Showing recent docs or trending files Finding files, people, conversations
Events & Scheduling	Events Web Part Group Calendar	Display upcoming meetings and events Show shared Outlook calendar	Calendars, filters Microsoft 365 Groups integration	Training, HR events, departmental schedules Team meetings, deadlines
People & Organization	People Web Part	Display profiles of team members	Job titles, contact details	Org clarity, team introductions
Business Intelligence	Power BI Web Part	Embed BI dashboards	KPIs, interactive charts	Data-driven decisions, reporting
Media & Embedding	Stream (Classic/Modern) Embed Web Part	Embed videos Add iframe or external site embed	Channels, playlists Custom HTML and embeds	Learning, announcements, training videos External apps or widgets
Custom & Advanced	Custom SPFx Web Parts Third-Party Web Parts	Address unique needs beyond standard Prebuilt enhanced components	Custom logic, UI, integrations Vendor support and features	ERP/CRM links, workflow automation Industry-specific or complex needs

3. Most Common Built-In SharePoint Web Parts Used in Intranets

To see how organizations typically assemble intranets, here are the web parts most commonly used across business departments as part of a well-planned SharePoint intranet development strategy:

Text Web Part

Text Web Part is the main content of the pages, and it allows an author to develop structured explanations, announcements, instructions, or guidelines using rich formatting. It helps in supporting headings, lists, hyperlinks, callouts, quotes, embedded media, and styling. In the case of many intranets, written guidance and policy communication relies on readable text that is easy to create and maintain with the help of the Text Web Part.
Hero Web Part

The Hero Web Part generates graphical layouts that easily attract the attention of the user towards high priority content. It is commonly used by organizations to bring out strategic connections, major announcements, department spotlights, onboarding materials, significant tools, or information on a campaign. Hero Web Part can build a stronger visual hierarchy of a page. It can also enhance the content discoverability with tile layouts that can be customized and responsive.
News Web Part

The News Web Part facilitates internal communication that is dynamic. It shows updates, leadership messages, organizational announcements, and departmental posts with the help of filters, targeting rules, and custom layouts. It also takes communication to a whole new level by bringing relevant content to the appropriate audiences on numerous sites. It also assists organizations to stay transparent and keep their employees updated.
Document Library Web Part

Document Library Web Part is used to display files in a SharePoint page in sortable and filterable views. Users are competent to see metadata, preview documents, filter, and access materials that they use a lot. This web component is important in bringing out policies, templates, SOPs, forms, project files, or libraries of departmental resources in an organized and easily accessible manner.
List Web Part

List Web Part allows organizations to display organized information of SharePoint lists, including tasks, support requests, inventory logs, asset registers, or project trackers. It facilitates dynamic filtering, sorting, conditional formatting, and custom views. It is used to create lightweight applications within the intranet of a team with modern list capabilities.
Quick Links Web Part

One of the most popular navigation components is Quick Links. It offers quick access to tools, systems, intranet pages, external applications, and high value content. Various visual effects are available to users including icons, tiles, buttons, compact lists, and grid layouts. This web component saves time that is wasted by employees in locating key resources.
Events Web Part

The Events Web Part shows the upcoming meetings, deadlines, workshops, organizational activities, and events relating to a particular department. It improves the visibility of time-sensitive information and maintains the teams in focus on shared calendars. This web part is utilized by many HR, operations, or training departments to live-stream significant schedules and encourage involvement.
People Web Part

People Web Part presents the team members in profile cards where job titles, roles, contact details, and organizational hierarchy are presented. It enhances findability to assist employees in locating other employees, specialists in a particular area, and management. This web part is improved to facilitate understanding of who does what in new employees or cross-functional teams.
Power BI Web Part

The Power BI Web Part integrates interactive analytics, dashboards, KPIs, and real-time data visualization into SharePoint. The executives, department heads, and project leaders can make decisions based on data without changing applications. It turns the traditional intranet pages into decision-rich hubs.
Viva Engage or Yammer Web Part

Viva Engage or Yammer Web Part is a product that incorporates enterprise social discussions within SharePoint pages. It allows community discussions, leadership interaction, cross-team interaction, and sharing of knowledge. Organizations can enhance interaction and promote cultural alignment among dispersed work teams by introducing social feeds into the intranet.

4. Functional Gaps in Standard Web Parts

In order to know when in-house components might not get the job done, keep in mind the following typical shortcomings.

Lack of Advanced Custom UI: Inbuilt web parts can have fixed layouts that can be easily branded with little opportunity to format or dynamic design styles.
Limited Integrations: Standard web parts are friendly to Microsoft 365, but they are seldom integrated into key business systems like the HRIS system, the ERP system, the old SQL database, or industry-specific software.
Absence of Complex Logic: The majority of web components are content oriented and presentation oriented. Without customization, they are unable to execute sophisticated automation based on rules or sophisticated workflow processing.
Data Visualization Gaps: Companies that need advanced dashboards, multi-source visualization, or special chart types cannot depend on the in-built visualization tools.
Basic Personalization: SharePoint can be used with audience targeting, but more personalized user settings need to be developed or configured.

5. What are Custom SharePoint Web Parts?

Custom SharePoint Web Parts are purpose-built components developed using the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) to extend SharePoint beyond its out-of-the-box capabilities and meet specific business requirements. They are created using the latest web technologies like TypeScript, React and Node.js. These bespoke solutions are capable of interoperating with Microsoft Graph, REST API, third-party databases, cloud environments, workflow engines, and third-party business applications.

SPFx packages are installed in the SharePoint App Catalog and implemented at a tenant or site wide. They are based on the authentication and permissions model used by Microsoft, which guarantees enterprise-level security. The custom web parts provide the organizations with full control in design, logic, integration, and user experience.

Pros and Cons of Using Custom Web Parts in SharePoint Online

The following is a fair evaluation of the pros and cons.

Pros

Tailored to unique business processes or departmental needs.
Intensive integration with any enterprise system.
Completely branded user experiences in line with corporate identity.
Improved visualization of data.
Capability to incorporate rules, logic and interactive behavior.
Adaptable evolution with business needs.

Cons

Needs expert SPFx development capabilities.
Needs regular maintenance because Microsoft upgrades the platform.
More expensive construction than inbuilt web parts.
Detailed testing must be done prior to deployment.
Management control needed to sustain quality.

6. Other Must-Have Web Parts for a High-Performing SharePoint Intranet

Here are the essential web parts required to build a high-performing SharePoint intranet. These components improve usability, strengthen internal communication, streamline processes, and increase employee engagement. Together, they create a connected digital workplace that supports daily work and reinforces organizational culture.

FAQ or Knowledge Base

A self-service knowledge base minimizes reliance on HR, IT and Operations as employees will have immediate response to commonly posed questions. This enhances efficiency, standardization of knowledge and aids in a smoother employee experience within the organization.
Custom Widgets

Widgets enable companies to include branded elements, external system integration, real-time feeds or custom-made tools. Such widgets take the intranet to the next level of capabilities of SharePoint and help in ensuring that business’s unique needs are satisfied.
Announcements Bar

A slim, high-visibility banner used to broadcast urgent messages, high-priority updates, outages, policy alerts, or time-sensitive communications without cluttering the main content area.
Weather & Location Widgets

Useful for distributed teams, field employees, or office-based staff, these widgets provide localized weather details, office conditions, or travel advisories relevant to hybrid and on-site workforces.
Embedded Forms (Microsoft Forms Web Part)

This web part allows departments like HR, IT, Operations, and Finance to gather feedback, collect survey responses, manage requests, and streamline lightweight workflows directly within intranet pages.
Countdown Timer Web Part

Enhances engagement by highlighting deadlines, launch dates, events, policy rollouts, or organizational milestones with a real-time countdown display.
Planner or To-Do Web Part

Integrates task lists, boards, and assignments from Microsoft Planner or To Do, helping teams visualize responsibilities and drive productivity within a single workspace.
Stream (on SharePoint) Video Web Part

SharePoint-native video hosting supports training libraries, executive messages, onboarding content, and culture-building video collections embedded seamlessly into pages.
Highlighted Content Web Part

Uses intelligent filtering to dynamically surface documents, pages, recent changes, or popular resources based on metadata, activity, or user roles.
Weather, Stock, or Live Feed Widgets (via Embed)

These elements enable real-time updates for industries like finance, operations, or logistics, making dashboards more informative and contextually relevant.

7. Department-Specific SharePoint Web Parts

To support specialized business functions, industries often rely on their own tailored web parts. These components reflect the unique workflows, regulatory requirements, and operational patterns within each department:

HR
- Onboarding portals: Assist new employees with the help of forms, handbooks, training modules and welcome resources.
- Policies and documentation: Have centralized access to HR policies, procedures and benefits.
- Employee directory: Enhances inter-team visibility and helps in relationship building.
- Courses and certifications: Surface training materials, courses and certifications.
IT
- Ticketing dashboards: Show the service requests, statuses and support cases.
- Portals on knowledge base: Contain technical how-to and troubleshooting guides.
- Service outage notifications: Share outages in the system, maintenance schedules and recovery schedules.
- Tracking of devices or assets: List hardware, software licenses and equipment assignments to the organization.
Finance
- Budget dashboards: Deliver executives and managers with real-time financial performance.
- Expense policies: Concentrate regulations, templates and approvals.
- Financial calendars: Mark important dates of reporting, audit and compliance.
- Data visualization panels: Show financial information in charts and graphs to the analysts.
Operations
- SOP libraries: Make sure that employees adhere to standard practices.
- Equipment records: Monitor equipment, service history and serviceability.
- Maintenance processes: Automated support service requests and scheduling.
- Compliance documentation: Protect regulatory compliance and audit preparedness.
Project Management
- Project dashboards: Overview project status, deliverables and progress.
- Gantt views: These give a visual representation of the timeline based on tasks, dependencies and milestones.
- Risk and issue: Logs of blockers, threats, mitigation and resolutions.
- Task assignment elements: Assistance teams allocate tasks and deal with deadlines.

8. When to Build, Buy, or Customize Web Parts: A Practical Decision Guide

To determine the right approach, use the following guidance. Each option carries trade-offs related to cost, speed, scalability, and alignment with business needs:

Choose Built-In Web Parts When:
- Demands are minimal.
- Rapid deployment is needed.
- The long-term maintenance should be easy.
- The familiarity of the employees is significant.
- Poor customization is tolerated.
Choose Third-Party Web Parts When:
- High-level requirements are required within a limited period.
- Support, updates and documentation are desired, vendor backed.
- Specific or niche functionality is needed in the industry.
- You want packaged solutions that reduce internal development work
Choose Custom Web Parts When:
- Requirements are distinctive, specialized or mission critical.
- It must be integrated with enterprise systems such as ERP, CRM or HRIS.
- Available designs are not enough to brand or UI.
- The user experience should be formed by complex business logic.
- Competitive advantage in the long-term is based on custom functionality.

9. Picking the Right Web Parts for Your SharePoint Site

The selection of appropriate web parts is based on a clear knowledge of business objectives, user requirements and the long term governance. Start with in-built elements, test usability with your teams and introduce third-party or custom web parts when the necessity of a sophisticated functionality is obvious. A properly designed web part ecosystem will guarantee scalability, performance and an intranet experience that will enhance productivity in your whole organisation.

When your organization is ready to take its SharePoint experience to the next level with thoughtfully designed web parts, seamless integrations, and a user-focused intranet, Congruent Software can help. Our SharePoint professionals focus on the development of scalable electronic offices that support your business objectives. Contact us to explore how we can support your SharePoint strategy.

A Complete Guide to SharePoint Web Parts for Intranets