diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/__init__.py b/IPython/html/widgets/__init__.py
index 6202414..6354735 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/__init__.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import Widget, DOMWidget
 
 from .widget_bool import BoolWidget
 from .widget_button import ButtonWidget
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget.py
index 7caedbe..70f3835 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-class BaseWidget(LoggingConfigurable):
+class Widget(LoggingConfigurable):
 
     # Shared declarations (Class level)
     widget_construction_callback = None
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ class BaseWidget(LoggingConfigurable):
         """Class method, registers a callback to be called when a widget is
         constructed.  The callback must have the following signature:
         callback(widget)"""
-        BaseWidget.widget_construction_callback = callback
+        Widget.widget_construction_callback = callback
 
     def _handle_widget_constructed(widget):
         """Class method, called when a widget is constructed."""
-        if BaseWidget.widget_construction_callback is not None and callable(BaseWidget.widget_construction_callback):
-            BaseWidget.widget_construction_callback(widget)
+        if Widget.widget_construction_callback is not None and callable(Widget.widget_construction_callback):
+            Widget.widget_construction_callback(widget)
 
     
 
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ class BaseWidget(LoggingConfigurable):
         """
         self._display_callbacks = []
         self._msg_callbacks = []
-        super(BaseWidget, self).__init__(**kwargs)
+        super(Widget, self).__init__(**kwargs)
 
         self.on_trait_change(self._handle_property_changed, self.keys)
-        BaseWidget._handle_widget_constructed(self)
+        Widget._handle_widget_constructed(self)
 
     def __del__(self):
         """Object disposal"""
@@ -205,14 +205,14 @@ class BaseWidget(LoggingConfigurable):
         for k in keys:
             value = getattr(self, k)
 
-            # a more elegant solution to encoding BaseWidgets would be
+            # a more elegant solution to encoding Widgets would be
             # to tap into the JSON encoder and teach it how to deal
-            # with BaseWidget objects, or maybe just teach the JSON
+            # with Widget objects, or maybe just teach the JSON
             # encoder to look for a _repr_json property before giving
             # up encoding
-            if isinstance(value, BaseWidget):
+            if isinstance(value, Widget):
                 value = value.model_id
-            elif isinstance(value, list) and len(value)>0 and isinstance(value[0], BaseWidget):
+            elif isinstance(value, list) and len(value)>0 and isinstance(value[0], Widget):
                 # assume all elements of the list are widgets
                 value = [i.model_id for i in value]
             state[k] = value
@@ -321,13 +321,13 @@ class BaseWidget(LoggingConfigurable):
             return False     
 
 
-class Widget(BaseWidget):
+class DOMWidget(Widget):
     visible = Bool(True, help="Whether or not the widget is visible.")
 
     # Private/protected declarations
     _css = Dict() # Internal CSS property dict
 
-    keys = ['visible', '_css'] + BaseWidget.keys
+    keys = ['visible', '_css'] + Widget.keys
 
     def get_css(self, key, selector=""):
         """Get a CSS property of the widget.  Note, this function does not
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_bool.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_bool.py
index 43f4b17..641a689 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_bool.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_bool.py
@@ -13,18 +13,18 @@ Represents a boolean using a widget.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Bool, List
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class BoolWidget(Widget):
+class BoolWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('BoolWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('CheckboxView')
 
     # Model Keys
-    keys = ['value', 'description', 'disabled'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['value', 'description', 'disabled'] + DOMWidget.keys
     value = Bool(False, help="Bool value")
     description = Unicode('', help="Description of the boolean (label).") 
     disabled = Bool(False, help="Enable or disable user changes.")
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_button.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_button.py
index 5f0a35c..6ef8f94 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_button.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_button.py
@@ -17,18 +17,18 @@ click events on the button and trigger backend code when the clicks are fired.
 import inspect
 import types
 
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Bool, Int
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class ButtonWidget(Widget):
+class ButtonWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('ButtonWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('ButtonView')
 
     # Keys
-    keys = ['description', 'disabled'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['description', 'disabled'] + DOMWidget.keys
     description = Unicode('', help="Description of the button (label).")
     disabled = Bool(False, help="Enable or disable user changes.")
     
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_container.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_container.py
index 857bf01..ef63902 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_container.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_container.py
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ Represents a container that can be used to group other widgets.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Bool, List, Instance
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class ContainerWidget(Widget):
+class ContainerWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('ContainerWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('ContainerView')
 
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ class ContainerWidget(Widget):
     keys = ['_vbox', '_hbox', '_align_start', '_align_end', '_align_center',
             '_pack_start', '_pack_end', '_pack_center', '_flex0', '_flex1', 
             '_flex2', 'description', 'button_text',
-            'children'] + Widget.keys
-    children = List(Instance(Widget))
+            'children'] + DOMWidget.keys
+    children = List(Instance(DOMWidget))
     
     description = Unicode()
     button_text = Unicode()
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_float.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_float.py
index a52a7b2..f0a5431 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_float.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_float.py
@@ -13,18 +13,18 @@ Represents an unbounded float using a widget.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Float, Bool, List
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class FloatWidget(Widget):
+class FloatWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('FloatWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('FloatTextView')
 
     # Keys
-    keys = ['value', 'disabled', 'description'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['value', 'disabled', 'description'] + DOMWidget.keys
     value = Float(0.0, help="Float value") 
     disabled = Bool(False, help="Enable or disable user changes")
     description = Unicode(help="Description of the value this widget represents")
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_float_range.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_float_range.py
index dac89f9..31af705 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_float_range.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_float_range.py
@@ -13,18 +13,18 @@ Represents a bounded float using a widget.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Float, Bool, List
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class FloatRangeWidget(Widget):
+class FloatRangeWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('FloatRangeWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('FloatSliderView')
 
     # Keys
-    keys = ['value', 'step', 'max', 'min', 'disabled', 'orientation', 'description'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['value', 'step', 'max', 'min', 'disabled', 'orientation', 'description'] + DOMWidget.keys
     value = Float(0.0, help="Flaot value") 
     max = Float(100.0, help="Max value")
     min = Float(0.0, help="Min value")
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_image.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_image.py
index 214c772..a52e12a 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_image.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_image.py
@@ -16,18 +16,18 @@ click events on the button and trigger backend code when the clicks are fired.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 import base64
 
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Bytes
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class ImageWidget(Widget):
+class ImageWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('ImageWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('ImageView')
     
     # Define the custom state properties to sync with the front-end
-    keys = ['image_format', 'width', 'height', '_b64value'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['image_format', 'width', 'height', '_b64value'] + DOMWidget.keys
     image_format = Unicode('png')
     width = Unicode()
     height = Unicode()
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_int.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_int.py
index 91dab57..b8d6ef5 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_int.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_int.py
@@ -13,18 +13,18 @@ Represents an unbounded int using a widget.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Int, Bool, List
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class IntWidget(Widget):
+class IntWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('IntWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('IntTextView')
 
     # Keys
-    keys = ['value', 'disabled', 'description'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['value', 'disabled', 'description'] + DOMWidget.keys
     value = Int(0, help="Int value") 
     disabled = Bool(False, help="Enable or disable user changes")
     description = Unicode(help="Description of the value this widget represents")
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_int_range.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_int_range.py
index d7383d9..f197d40 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_int_range.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_int_range.py
@@ -13,18 +13,18 @@ Represents a bounded int using a widget.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Int, Bool, List
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class IntRangeWidget(Widget):
+class IntRangeWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('IntRangeWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('IntSliderView')
 
     # Keys
-    keys = ['value', 'step', 'max', 'min', 'disabled', 'orientation', 'description'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['value', 'step', 'max', 'min', 'disabled', 'orientation', 'description'] + DOMWidget.keys
     value = Int(0, help="Int value") 
     max = Int(100, help="Max value")
     min = Int(0, help="Min value")
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_multicontainer.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_multicontainer.py
index c82d520..d6d73a7 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_multicontainer.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_multicontainer.py
@@ -14,22 +14,22 @@ pages.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Dict, Int, List, Instance
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class MulticontainerWidget(Widget):
+class MulticontainerWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('MulticontainerWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('TabView')
 
     # Keys
-    keys = ['_titles', 'selected_index', 'children'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['_titles', 'selected_index', 'children'] + DOMWidget.keys
     _titles = Dict(help="Titles of the pages")
     selected_index = Int(0)
 
-    children = List(Instance(Widget))
+    children = List(Instance(DOMWidget))
 
     # Public methods
     def set_title(self, index, title):
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_selection.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_selection.py
index 1488a5d..a3bcc0c 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_selection.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_selection.py
@@ -13,18 +13,18 @@ Represents an enumeration using a widget.
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Imports
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, List, Bool
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # SelectionWidget
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class SelectionWidget(Widget):
+class SelectionWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('SelectionWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('DropdownView')
 
     # Keys
-    keys = ['value', 'values', 'disabled', 'description'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['value', 'values', 'disabled', 'description'] + DOMWidget.keys
     value = Unicode(help="Selected value")
     values = List(help="List of values the user can select")
     disabled = Bool(False, help="Enable or disable user changes")
diff --git a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_string.py b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_string.py
index d7bbaad..83f004b 100644
--- a/IPython/html/widgets/widget_string.py
+++ b/IPython/html/widgets/widget_string.py
@@ -16,18 +16,18 @@ Represents a unicode string using a widget.
 import inspect
 import types
 
-from .widget import Widget
+from .widget import DOMWidget
 from IPython.utils.traitlets import Unicode, Bool, List, Int
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class StringWidget(Widget):
+class StringWidget(DOMWidget):
     target_name = Unicode('StringWidgetModel')
     default_view_name = Unicode('TextBoxView')
 
     # Keys
-    keys = ['value', 'disabled', 'description'] + Widget.keys
+    keys = ['value', 'disabled', 'description'] + DOMWidget.keys
     value = Unicode(help="String value")
     disabled = Bool(False, help="Enable or disable user changes")
     description = Unicode(help="Description of the value this widget represents")