Online Today Widget (24h / 48h Activity Tracker)
Ever wondered who’s actually been active today, not just who’s online right this second?
Online Today Widget gives you a beautiful, modern sidebar widget that shows all members who’ve been active within a configurable time period (24 hours, 48 hours, or any range you choose), complete with avatars, usernames, totals, and a clean expandable list.
Perfect for forums where “drive-by activity” matters more than momentary online status.
What It Does
- Displays members active within the last X hours
- Shows a clean, compact grid of recently active members
- Includes a summary pill:
- Adds a collapsible overflow section to reveal everyone active in that period
- Fully configurable per widget instance
- Can be placed in ANY sidebar position
This isn’t a “who’s online right now” gimmick — it’s an activity health indicator for your community.
Smart by Design
- Uses XenForo’s last_activity tracking (no session spam, no guest noise)
- Built-in short-term caching to keep performance tight
- No JavaScript dependencies — uses native HTML <details> for expand/collapse
- Respects XenForo’s widget system and template architecture
Clean, Modern Styling
- Rounded “pill” layout
- Avatar + username alignment that works in narrow sidebars
- Truncated names (no layout breakage)
- Looks great on dark and light styles
- Styling is fully addon-contained and exportable
No theme file editing required.
Widget Options
Each widget instance can be configured independently:
- Activity period (hours)
Examples: 24, 48, 72, 168 - Number of members shown in the grid
- Overflow list size (optional cap for very large communities)
Placement
- Forum list sidebar
- Thread view sidebar
- Any custom sidebar position
- Multiple instances supported (e.g. “Today”, “This Week”)
Why Use Online Today Widget?
âś” Shows real engagement, not just idle sessions
✔ Encourages community participation (“people are active here”)
âś” Makes quiet forums look alive
âś” Gives staff an instant pulse check on activity
âś” Looks polished out of the box
Technical Details
- XenForo version: 2.3+
- Fully exportable add-on
- No template or style hacks
- Upgrade-safe Setup.php
- Clean namespace and widget definition
Perfect For
- Small & medium communities
- Forums with global audiences (different time zones)
- Activity-driven forums (support, hobbies, gaming, paranormal
) - Admins who want meaningful engagement metrics
