diff --git a/doc/component.md b/doc/component.md
index 0c4acdaf..b546929a 100644
--- a/doc/component.md
+++ b/doc/component.md
@@ -337,15 +337,14 @@ This is the opposite method of `mounted`.
 
 ### Composition
 
-The example above shows a QWeb template with a `t-on-click` directive. Widget
-templates are standard [QWeb](qweb.md) templates, but with an extra directive:
-`t-widget`. With the `t-widget` directive, widget templates can declare sub
-widgets:
+The example above shows a QWeb template with a sub component. In a template,
+components are declared with a tagname corresponding to the class name. It has
+to be capitalized.
 
 ```xml
 <div t-name="ParentWidget">
   <span>some text</span>
-  <t t-widget="MyWidget" info="13"/>
+  <MyWidget info="13" />
 </div>
 ```
 
@@ -357,22 +356,18 @@ class ParentWidget extends owl.Component {
 ```
 
 In this example, the `ParentWidget`'s template creates a widget `MyWidget` just
-after the span. The `info` key will be added to the subwidget's props. Each
-props is a string which represents a javascript (QWeb) expression, so it is
+after the span. The `info` key will be added to the subwidget's `props`. Each
+`props` is a string which represents a javascript (QWeb) expression, so it is
 dynamic. If it is necessary to give a string, this can be done by quoting it:
-`someString="'somevalue'"`. See the
-[QWeb](qweb.md) documentation for more information on the `t-widget` directive.
+`someString="'somevalue'"`. 
 
 Note that the rendering context for the template is the widget itself. This means
 that the template can access `state`, `props`, `env`, or any methods defined in the widget.
 
-The `t-widget` directive is the key to a declarative component
-system. It allows a template to define where and how a sub widget is created
-and/or updated. For example:
 
 ```xml
 <div t-name="ParentWidget">
-    <t t-widget="ChildWidget" count="state.val"/>
+    <ChildWidget count="state.val" />
 </div>
 ```
 
@@ -397,12 +392,11 @@ the subwidget will also be updated automatically.
 Note that there are some restrictions on prop names: `class`, `style` and any
 string which starts with `t-` are not allowed.
 
-The `t-widget` directive also accepts dynamic values with string interpolation
-(like the [`t-attf-`](qweb.md#dynamic-attributes) directive):
+The `t-widget` directive can also be used to accept dynamic values with string interpolation (like the [`t-attf-`](qweb.md#dynamic-attributes) directive):
 
 ```xml
 <div t-name="ParentWidget">
-    <t t-widget="ChildWidget{{id}}"/>
+    <t t-widget="ChildWidget{{id}}" />
 </div>
 ```
 
@@ -419,7 +413,7 @@ root widget element.
 
 ```xml
 <div t-name="ParentWidget">
-  <t t-widget="MyWidget" class="someClass" style="font-weight:bold;" info="13"/>
+  <MyWidget class="someClass" style="font-weight:bold;" info="13" />
 </div>
 ```
 
@@ -431,7 +425,7 @@ class that need to be removed. This is why we only support the explicit syntax
 with a class object:
 
 ```xml
-<t t-widget="MyWidget" t-att-class="{a: state.flagA, b: state.flagB}" />
+<MyWidget t-att-class="{a: state.flagA, b: state.flagB}" />
 ```
 
 ### Event Handling
@@ -463,7 +457,7 @@ event.
 A _business_ DOM event is triggered by a call to `trigger` on a component.
 
 ```xml
-<t t-widget="MyWidget" t-on-menu-loaded="someMethod"/>
+<MyWidget t-on-menu-loaded="someMethod" />
 ```
 
 ```js
@@ -538,8 +532,8 @@ class Form extends owl.Component {
 
 ```xml
 <div>
-  <input t-on-input="_updateInputValue"/>
-  <span t-esc="state.text"/>
+  <input t-on-input="_updateInputValue" />
+  <span t-esc="state.text" />
 </div>
 ```
 
@@ -559,8 +553,8 @@ class Form extends owl.Component {
 
 ```xml
 <div>
-  <input t-model="text"/>
-  <span t-esc="state.text"/>
+  <input t-model="text" />
+  <span t-esc="state.text" />
 </div>
 ```
 
@@ -586,7 +580,7 @@ The `t-model` directive works with `<input>`, `<input type="checkbox">`,
             <label for="red">Red</label>
         </span>
         <span>
-            <input type="radio" name="color" id="blue" value="blue" t-model="color"/>
+            <input type="radio" name="color" id="blue" value="blue" t-model="color" />
             <label for="blue">Blue</label>
         </span>
     </div>
@@ -604,7 +598,7 @@ Like event handling, the `t-model` directive accepts some modifiers:
 For example:
 
 ```xml
-<input t-model.lazy="someVal"/>
+<input t-model.lazy="someVal" />
 ```
 
 These modifiers can be combined. For instance, `t-model.lazy.number` will only
@@ -627,7 +621,7 @@ There are three main use cases:
 
   ```xml
     <span t-foreach="todos" t-as="todo" t-key="todo.id">
-        <t t-esc="todo.text"/>
+        <t t-esc="todo.text" />
     </span>
   ```
 
@@ -836,7 +830,7 @@ Like the `t-on` directive, it can work either on a DOM node, or on a component:
 ```xml
 <div>
     <div t-ref="someDiv"/>
-    <t t-widget="SubWidget" t-ref="someWidget"/>
+    <SubWidget t-ref="someWidget"/>
 </div>
 ```
 
@@ -894,14 +888,14 @@ Slots are defined by the caller, with the `t-set` directive:
 ```xml
 <div t-name="SomeWidget">
   <div>some widget</div>
-  <t t-widget="Dialog" title="Some Dialog">
+  <Dialog title="Some Dialog">
     <t t-set="content">
       <div>hey</div>
     </t>
     <t t-set="footer">
       <button t-on-click="doSomething">ok</button>
     </t>
-  </t>
+  </Dialog>
 </div>
 ```
 
@@ -933,9 +927,9 @@ be considered the `default` slot. For example:
 
 ```xml
 <div t-name="Parent">
-  <t t-widget="Child">
+  <Child>
     <span>some content</span>
-  </t>
+  </Child>
 </div>
 
 <div t-name="Child">
@@ -979,7 +973,7 @@ Here are a few tips on how to work with asynchronous widgets:
 
    ```xml
    <div t-name="ParentWidget">
-     <t t-widget="SyncChild"/>
-     <t t-widget="AsyncChild" t-asyncroot="1"/>
+     <SyncChild />
+     <AsyncChild t-asyncroot="1"/>
    </div>
    ```
diff --git a/doc/qweb.md b/doc/qweb.md
index 60cde467..76244064 100644
--- a/doc/qweb.md
+++ b/doc/qweb.md
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ It's API is quite simple:
   ...
 
   class ParentWidget extends owl.Component { ... }
-  qweb.addTemplate("ParentWidget", "<div><t t-widget='Dialog'/></div>");
+  qweb.addTemplate("ParentWidget", "<div><Dialog/></div>");
   ```
 
 ## Reference
diff --git a/src/qweb_core.ts b/src/qweb_core.ts
index c3f4f4da..8005bb90 100644
--- a/src/qweb_core.ts
+++ b/src/qweb_core.ts
@@ -346,6 +346,13 @@ export class QWeb {
       return;
     }
 
+    const firstLetter = node.tagName[0];
+    if (firstLetter === firstLetter.toUpperCase()) {
+        // this is a component, we modify in place the xml document to change
+        // <SomeComponent ... /> to <t t-widget="SomeComponent" ... />
+        node.setAttribute('t-widget', node.tagName);
+        node.nodeValue = 't';
+    }
     const attributes = (<Element>node).attributes;
 
     const validDirectives: {
diff --git a/src/qweb_extensions.ts b/src/qweb_extensions.ts
index 28034076..9752f39e 100644
--- a/src/qweb_extensions.ts
+++ b/src/qweb_extensions.ts
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ const T_WIDGET_MODS_CODE = Object.assign({}, MODS_CODE, {
  * explanation of the code generated by the t-widget directive for the following
  * situation:
  * ```xml
- *   <t t-widget="child"
+ *   <Child
  *      t-key="'somestring'"
  *      flag="state.flag"
  *      t-transition="fade"/>
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/animations.test.ts.snap b/tests/__snapshots__/animations.test.ts.snap
index 4b31d32c..e99d7742 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/animations.test.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/animations.test.ts.snap
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
 
-exports[`animations t-transition combined with t-widget 1`] = `
+exports[`animations t-transition combined with component 1`] = `
 "function anonymous(context,extra
 ) {
     let utils = this.utils;
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/component.test.ts.snap b/tests/__snapshots__/component.test.ts.snap
index abada199..0c0c8049 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/component.test.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/component.test.ts.snap
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Jest Snapshot v1, https://goo.gl/fbAQLP
 
-exports[`async rendering delayed t-widget with t-asyncroot directive 1`] = `
+exports[`async rendering delayed component with t-asyncroot directive 1`] = `
 "function anonymous(context,extra
 ) {
     let utils = this.utils;
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ exports[`async rendering delayed t-widget with t-asyncroot directive 1`] = `
 }"
 `;
 
-exports[`async rendering fast t-widget with t-asyncroot directive 1`] = `
+exports[`async rendering fast component with t-asyncroot directive 1`] = `
 "function anonymous(context,extra
 ) {
     let utils = this.utils;
@@ -650,7 +650,7 @@ exports[`other directives with t-widget t-on with prevent and self modifiers (or
         }
     }
     if (!w4) {
-        let widgetKey4 = \`child\`;
+        let widgetKey4 = \`Child\`;
         let W4 = context.widgets && context.widgets[widgetKey4] || QWeb.widgets[widgetKey4];
         if (!W4) {throw new Error('Cannot find the definition of widget \\"' + widgetKey4 + '\\"')}
         w4 = new W4(owner, props4);
diff --git a/tests/animations.test.ts b/tests/animations.test.ts
index 8d806932..dcaf7cde 100644
--- a/tests/animations.test.ts
+++ b/tests/animations.test.ts
@@ -170,12 +170,12 @@ describe("animations", () => {
     expect(spanNode.className).toBe("");
   });
 
-  test("t-transition combined with t-widget", async () => {
+  test("t-transition combined with component", async () => {
     expect.assertions(5);
 
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "Parent",
-      `<div><t t-widget="Child" t-transition="chimay"/></div>`
+      `<div><Child t-transition="chimay"/></div>`
     );
     env.qweb.addTemplate("Child", `<span>blue</span>`);
     class Parent extends Widget {
diff --git a/tests/component.test.ts b/tests/component.test.ts
index e85adb9a..d62b1d18 100644
--- a/tests/component.test.ts
+++ b/tests/component.test.ts
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ describe("lifecycle hooks", () => {
       `
           <div>
             <div t-if="state.flag">
-              <t t-widget="ChildWidget" n="state.n"/>
+              <ChildWidget n="state.n"/>
             </div>
           </div>`
     );
@@ -549,7 +549,7 @@ describe("lifecycle hooks", () => {
     let def = makeDeferred();
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "Parent",
-      '<span><t t-widget="Child" n="state.n"/></span>'
+      '<span><Child n="state.n"/></span>'
     );
     class Parent extends Widget {
       state = { n: 1 };
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ describe("lifecycle hooks", () => {
 
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "Parent",
-      '<div><t t-widget="Child" a="state.a"/></div>'
+      '<div><Child a="state.a"/></div>'
     );
     class Parent extends Widget {
       state = { a: 1 };
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ describe("lifecycle hooks", () => {
     let shouldUpdate = false;
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "Parent",
-      `<div><t t-widget="Child" val="state.val"/></div>`
+      `<div><Child val="state.val"/></div>`
     );
     class Parent extends Widget {
       state = { val: 42 };
@@ -889,11 +889,26 @@ describe("composition", () => {
     delete QWeb.widgets["WidgetB"];
   });
 
+  test("can define widgets in template without t-widget", async () => {
+    env.qweb.addTemplates(`
+      <templates>
+        <div t-name="P"><C a="1"/></div>
+        <span t-name="C"><t t-esc="props.a"/></span>
+      </templates>`);
+    class C extends Widget {}
+    class P extends Widget {
+        widgets = {C};
+    }
+    const parent = new P(env);
+    await parent.mount(fixture);
+    expect(fixture.innerHTML).toBe("<div><span>1</span></div>");
+  });
+
   test("throw a nice error if it cannot find widget", async () => {
     expect.assertions(1);
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "Parent",
-      `<div><t t-widget="SomeMispelledWidget"/></div>`
+      `<div><SomeMispelledWidget /></div>`
     );
     class Parent extends Widget {
       widgets = { SomeWidget: Widget };
@@ -1074,11 +1089,11 @@ describe("composition", () => {
   test("sub widgets are destroyed if no longer in dom, then recreated", async () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "ParentWidget",
-      `<div><t t-if="state.ok"><t t-widget="counter"/></t></div>`
+      `<div><t t-if="state.ok"><Counter /></t></div>`
     );
     class ParentWidget extends Widget {
       state = { ok: true };
-      widgets = { counter: Counter };
+      widgets = { Counter };
     }
     const widget = new ParentWidget(env);
     await widget.mount(fixture);
@@ -1102,11 +1117,11 @@ describe("composition", () => {
   test("sub widgets with t-keepalive are not destroyed if no longer in dom", async () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "ParentWidget",
-      `<div><t t-if="state.ok"><t t-widget="counter" t-keepalive="1"/></t></div>`
+      `<div><t t-if="state.ok"><Counter t-keepalive="1"/></t></div>`
     );
     class ParentWidget extends Widget {
       state = { ok: true };
-      widgets = { counter: Counter };
+      widgets = { Counter };
     }
     const widget = new ParentWidget(env);
     await widget.mount(fixture);
@@ -1135,7 +1150,7 @@ describe("composition", () => {
   test("sub widgets dom state with t-keepalive is preserved", async () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "ParentWidget",
-      `<div><t t-if="state.ok"><t t-widget="InputWidget" t-keepalive="1"/></t></div>`
+      `<div><t t-if="state.ok"><InputWidget t-keepalive="1"/></t></div>`
     );
     class ParentWidget extends Widget {
       state = { ok: true };
@@ -1163,7 +1178,7 @@ describe("composition", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplates(`
       <templates>
         <div t-name="ParentWidget">
-          <t t-if="state.ok"><t t-widget="ChildWidget" t-ref="child" t-keepalive="1"/></t>
+          <t t-if="state.ok"><ChildWidget t-ref="child" t-keepalive="1"/></t>
         </div>
         <span t-name="ChildWidget">Hello</span>
       </templates>`);
@@ -1275,7 +1290,7 @@ describe("composition", () => {
       `<div>
             <h1 t-if="state.flag">hey</h1>
             <h2 t-else="1">noo</h2>
-            <span><t t-widget="ChildWidget"/></span>
+            <span><ChildWidget/></span>
             <t t-if="state.flag"><span>test</span></t>
         </div>`
     );
@@ -1723,18 +1738,18 @@ describe("other directives with t-widget", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplates(`
       <templates>
         <div t-name="ParentWidget">
-          <t t-widget="child" t-on-ev.prevent.self="onEv"/>
+          <Child t-on-ev.prevent.self="onEv"/>
         </div>
-        <div t-name="Child"><t t-widget="child"/></div>
+        <div t-name="Child"><GrandChild/></div>
       </templates>
     `);
     const steps: boolean[] = [];
     class ParentWidget extends Widget {
-      widgets = { child: Child };
+      widgets = { Child };
       onEv() {}
     }
     class Child extends Widget {
-      widgets = { child: GrandChild };
+      widgets = { GrandChild };
     }
     class GrandChild extends Widget {}
     const widget = new ParentWidget(env);
@@ -1962,7 +1977,7 @@ describe("random stuff/miscellaneous", () => {
         steps.push(`${this.name}:destroy`);
       }
     }
-    env.qweb.addTemplate("A", `<div>A<t t-widget="B"/><t t-widget="C"/></div>`);
+    env.qweb.addTemplate("A", `<div>A<B /><C /></div>`);
     class A extends TestWidget {
       widgets = { B, C };
       name = "A";
@@ -1978,9 +1993,9 @@ describe("random stuff/miscellaneous", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "C",
       `
-        <div>C<t t-widget="D"/>
-            <t t-if="state.flag" t-widget="E"/>
-            <t t-else="!state.flag" t-widget="F"/>
+        <div>C<D />
+            <E t-if="state.flag" />
+            <F t-else="!state.flag" />
         </div>`
     );
     class C extends TestWidget {
@@ -2102,7 +2117,7 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
     let n = 0;
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "W",
-      `<div><t t-if="state.val > 1"><t t-widget="Child" val="state.val"/></t></div>`
+      `<div><t t-if="state.val > 1"><Child val="state.val"/></t></div>`
     );
     class W extends Widget {
       widgets = { Child };
@@ -2156,8 +2171,8 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
       "Parent",
       `
         <div>
-          <t t-if="state.flagA"><t t-widget="ChildA"/></t>
-          <t t-if="state.flagB"><t t-widget="ChildB"/></t>
+          <t t-if="state.flagA"><ChildA /></t>
+          <t t-if="state.flagB"><ChildB /></t>
         </div>`
     );
     class Parent extends Widget {
@@ -2203,8 +2218,8 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
       "Parent",
       `
         <div>
-          <t t-widget="ChildA" val="state.valA"/>
-          <t t-if="state.flagB"><t t-widget="ChildB" val="state.valB"/></t>
+          <ChildA val="state.valA"/>
+          <t t-if="state.flagB"><ChildB val="state.valB"/></t>
         </div>`
     );
     class Parent extends Widget {
@@ -2254,7 +2269,7 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
                 <ul>
                     <t t-foreach="items" t-as="item">
                         <li t-key="'li_'+item">
-                            <t t-widget="Child" item="item"/>
+                            <Child item="item"/>
                         </li>
                     </t>
                 </ul>
@@ -2271,7 +2286,7 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
   test("properly behave when destroyed/unmounted while rendering ", async () => {
     let def = Promise.resolve();
 
-    env.qweb.addTemplate("Child", `<div><t t-widget="SubChild"/></div>`);
+    env.qweb.addTemplate("Child", `<div><SubChild /></div>`);
     class Child extends Widget {
       widgets = { SubChild };
       mounted() {
@@ -2298,7 +2313,7 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "Parent",
       `
-        <div><t t-if="state.flag"><t t-widget="Child" val="state.val"/></t></div>`
+        <div><t t-if="state.flag"><Child val="state.val"/></t></div>`
     );
     class Parent extends Widget {
       widgets = { Child };
@@ -2331,8 +2346,8 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
             <span t-name="ChildB">b<t t-esc="props.val"/></span>
             <span t-name="Parent">
                 <t t-if="state.flag">
-                    <t t-widget="ChildA" val="state.valA"/>
-                    <t t-widget="ChildB" val="state.valB"/>
+                    <ChildA val="state.valA"/>
+                    <ChildB val="state.valB"/>
                 </t>
             </span>
         </templates>
@@ -2368,14 +2383,14 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
     expect(destroyCount).toBe(0);
   });
 
-  test("delayed t-widget with t-asyncroot directive", async () => {
+  test("delayed component with t-asyncroot directive", async () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplates(`
       <templates>
         <div t-name="Parent">
           <button t-on-click="updateApp">Update App State</button>
           <div class="children">
-            <t t-widget="Child" val="state.val"/>
-            <t t-widget="AsyncChild" t-asyncroot="1" val="state.val"/>
+            <Child val="state.val"/>
+            <AsyncChild t-asyncroot="1" val="state.val"/>
           </div>
         </div>
         <span t-name="Child"><t t-esc="props.val"/></span>
@@ -2423,14 +2438,14 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
     );
   });
 
-  test("fast t-widget with t-asyncroot directive", async () => {
+  test("fast component with t-asyncroot directive", async () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplates(`
       <templates>
         <div t-name="Parent">
           <button t-on-click="updateApp">Update App State</button>
           <div class="children">
-            <t t-widget="Child" t-asyncroot="1" val="state.val"/>
-            <t t-widget="AsyncChild" val="state.val"/>
+            <Child t-asyncroot="1" val="state.val"/>
+            <AsyncChild val="state.val"/>
           </div>
         </div>
         <span t-name="Child"><t t-esc="props.val"/></span>
@@ -2484,8 +2499,8 @@ describe("async rendering", () => {
         <div t-name="Parent">
           <button t-on-click="updateApp">Update App State</button>
           <div class="children">
-            <t t-widget="Child" val="state.val"/>
-            <t t-widget="AsyncChild" t-asyncroot="1" val="state.val"/>
+            <Child val="state.val"/>
+            <AsyncChild t-asyncroot="1" val="state.val"/>
           </div>
         </div>
         <span t-name="Child" t-on-click="increment">
@@ -2617,9 +2632,9 @@ describe("updating environment", () => {
   });
 
   test("updating parent env does modify child env, part 2", async () => {
-    env.qweb.addTemplate("ParentWidget", `<div><t t-widget="child"/></div>`);
+    env.qweb.addTemplate("ParentWidget", `<div><Child/></div>`);
     class ParentWidget extends Widget {
-      widgets = { child: Widget };
+      widgets = { Child: Widget };
     }
     const parent = new ParentWidget(env);
     await parent.mount(fixture);
@@ -2642,7 +2657,7 @@ describe("updating environment", () => {
   });
 
   test("updating env force rerendering children", async () => {
-    env.qweb.addTemplate("Parent", `<div><t t-widget="Child"/></div>`);
+    env.qweb.addTemplate("Parent", `<div><Child /></div>`);
     class Parent extends Widget {
       widgets = { Child };
     }
@@ -2680,7 +2695,7 @@ describe("widget and observable state", () => {
     expect.assertions(1);
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "Parent",
-      `<div><t t-widget="Child" obj="state.obj"/></div>`
+      `<div><Child obj="state.obj"/></div>`
     );
     class Parent extends Widget {
       state = { obj: { coffee: 1 } };
@@ -2822,10 +2837,10 @@ describe("t-slot directive", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplates(`
         <templates>
           <div t-name="Parent">
-             <t t-widget="Dialog">
+             <Dialog>
                 <t t-set="header"><span>header</span></t>
                 <t t-set="footer"><span>footer</span></t>
-             </t>
+             </Dialog>
           </div>
           <div t-name="Dialog">
             <div><t t-slot="header"/></div>
@@ -2852,9 +2867,9 @@ describe("t-slot directive", () => {
         <templates>
           <div t-name="Parent">
             <span class="counter"><t t-esc="state.val"/></span>
-            <t t-widget="Dialog">
+            <Dialog>
               <t t-set="footer"><button t-on-click="doSomething">do something</button></t>
-            </t>
+            </Dialog>
           </div>
           <span t-name="Dialog"><t t-slot="footer"/></span>
         </templates>
@@ -2887,9 +2902,9 @@ describe("t-slot directive", () => {
         <templates>
           <div t-name="Parent">
             <span class="counter"><t t-esc="state.val"/></span>
-            <t t-widget="Dialog">
+            <Dialog>
               <t t-set="footer"><button t-ref="myButton" t-on-click="doSomething">do something</button></t>
-            </t>
+            </Dialog>
           </div>
           <span t-name="Dialog"><t t-slot="footer"/></span>
         </templates>
@@ -3153,9 +3168,9 @@ describe("t-model directive", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplates(`
         <templates>
           <div t-name="Parent">
-             <t t-widget="Dialog">
+             <Dialog>
                 <span>sts rocks</span>
-             </t>
+             </Dialog>
           </div>
           <div t-name="Dialog"><t t-slot="default"/></div>
         </templates>
diff --git a/tests/store.test.ts b/tests/store.test.ts
index da6d8a5f..592cd9fe 100644
--- a/tests/store.test.ts
+++ b/tests/store.test.ts
@@ -534,8 +534,8 @@ describe("connecting a component to store", () => {
       "App",
       `
             <div>
-                <t t-foreach="props.todos" t-as="todo" t-key="todo">
-                    <t t-widget="Todo" msg="todo.msg"/>
+                <t t-foreach="props.todos" t-as="todo" >
+                    <Todo msg="todo.msg" t-key="todo"/>
                 </t>
             </div>`
     );
@@ -624,8 +624,8 @@ describe("connecting a component to store", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplates(`
       <templates>
         <div t-name="App">
-          <t t-foreach="props.todos" t-as="todo" t-key="todo">
-            <t t-widget="Todo" msg="todo.msg"/>
+          <t t-foreach="props.todos" t-as="todo">
+            <Todo msg="todo.msg" t-key="todo" />
           </t>
         </div>
         <span t-name="Todo"><t t-esc="props.msg"/></span>
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@ describe("connecting a component to store", () => {
       "TodoList",
       `<div>
             <t t-foreach="props.todos" t-as="todo">
-              <t t-widget="ConnectedTodo" id="todo.id"/>
+              <ConnectedTodo id="todo.id" t-key="todo.id"/>
             </t>
           </div>`
     );
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ describe("connecting a component to store", () => {
       "TodoList",
       `<div>
             <t t-foreach="props.todos" t-as="todo">
-              <t t-widget="ConnectedTodo" id="todo.id"/>
+              <ConnectedTodo id="todo.id" t-key="todo.id"/>
             </t>
           </div>`
     );
@@ -839,7 +839,7 @@ describe("connecting a component to store", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "App",
       `<div>
-            <t t-widget="ConnectedBeer" id="state.beerId"/>
+            <ConnectedBeer id="state.beerId"/>
         </div>`
     );
     class App extends Component<any, any, any> {
@@ -923,8 +923,8 @@ describe("connecting a component to store", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "App",
       `<div>
-              <t t-widget="ConnectedBeer" id="state.beerId"/>
-          </div>`
+            <ConnectedBeer id="state.beerId"/>
+        </div>`
     );
     class App extends Component<any, any, any> {
       widgets = { ConnectedBeer };
@@ -995,7 +995,7 @@ describe("connecting a component to store", () => {
     env.qweb.addTemplate(
       "App",
       `<div>
-              <t t-widget="ConnectedBeer" id="state.beerId"/>
+              <ConnectedBeer id="state.beerId"/>
           </div>`
     );
     class App extends Component<any, any, any> {
@@ -1074,7 +1074,7 @@ describe("connecting a component to store", () => {
       "Parent",
       `
         <div>
-            <t t-widget="Child" key="props.current"/>
+            <Child key="props.current"/>
         </div>
       `
     );
diff --git a/tools/playground/samples.js b/tools/playground/samples.js
index 52f7cc71..c2bd1858 100644
--- a/tools/playground/samples.js
+++ b/tools/playground/samples.js
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ const COMPONENTS_XML = `<templates>
   </button>
 
   <div t-name="App">
-    <t t-widget="Counter"/>
-    <t t-widget="Counter"/>
+    <Counter />
+    <Counter />
   </div>
 </templates>`;
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ const ANIMATION_XML = `<templates>
       <div class="demo">
         <button t-on-click="toggle('widgetFlag')">Toggle widget</button>
         <div>
-          <t t-widget="Counter" t-if="state.widgetFlag" t-transition="fade"/>
+          <Counter t-if="state.widgetFlag" t-transition="fade"/>
         </div>
       </div>
 
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ const ANIMATION_XML = `<templates>
         <button t-on-click="addNumber">Add a number</button>
         <div>
           <t t-foreach="state.numbers" t-as="n">
-            <span t-transition="fade" class="numberspan"><t t-esc="n"/></span>
+            <span t-transition="fade" class="numberspan" t-key="n"><t t-esc="n"/></span>
           </t>
         </div>
       </div>
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ const LIFECYCLE_DEMO_XML = `<templates>
     <button t-on-click="increment">Increment Parent State</button>
     <button t-on-click="toggleSubWidget">Toggle SubWidget</button>
     <div t-if="state.flag">
-      <t t-widget="DemoWidget" n="state.n"/>
+      <DemoWidget n="state.n"/>
     </div>
   </div>
 </templates>`;
@@ -483,7 +483,7 @@ const TODO_APP_STORE_XML = `<templates>
       <label for="toggle-all"></label>
       <ul class="todo-list">
         <t t-foreach="visibleTodos" t-as="todo">
-          <t t-widget="TodoItem" t-key="todo.id" id="todo.id" completed="todo.completed" title="todo.title"/>
+          <TodoItem t-key="todo.id" id="todo.id" completed="todo.completed" title="todo.title"/>
         </t>
       </ul>
     </section>
@@ -995,17 +995,17 @@ const RESPONSIVE_XML = `<templates>
   </div>
 
   <div t-name="App" class="app" t-att-class="{mobile: env.isMobile, desktop: !env.isMobile}">
-    <t t-widget="Navbar"/>
-    <t t-widget="ControlPanel"/>
+    <Navbar/>
+    <ControlPanel/>
     <div class="content-wrapper" t-if="!env.isMobile">
       <div class="content">
-        <t t-widget="FormView"/>
-        <t t-widget="Chatter"/>
+        <FormView />
+        <Chatter />
       </div>
     </div>
     <t t-else="1">
-      <t t-widget="FormView"/>
-      <t t-widget="Chatter"/>
+      <FormView />
+      <Chatter />
     </t>
   </div>
 </templates>
@@ -1128,17 +1128,17 @@ const SLOTS_XML = `<templates>
   </div>
 
   <div t-name="App" class="main">
-    <t t-widget="Card" title="'Title card A'">
+    <Card title="'Title card A'">
       <t t-set="content">Content of card 1...  [<t t-esc="state.a"/>]</t>
       <t t-set="footer"><button t-on-click="inc('a', 1)">Increment A</button></t>
-    </t>
-    <t t-widget="Card"  title="'Title card B'">
+    </Card>
+    <Card title="'Title card B'">
       <div t-set="content">
         <div>Card 2... [<t t-esc="state.b"/>]</div>
-        <t t-widget="Counter"/>
+        <Counter />
       </div>
       <t t-set="footer"><button t-on-click="inc('b', -1)">Decrement B</button></t>
-    </t>
+    </Card>
   </div>
 </templates>`;
 
@@ -1226,8 +1226,8 @@ app.mount(document.body);
 const ASYNC_COMPONENTS_XML = `<templates>
   <div t-name="App" class="app">
     <button t-on-click="increment">Increment</button>
-    <t t-widget="SlowWidget" value="state.value"/>
-    <t t-widget="NotificationList" t-asyncroot="1" notifications="state.notifs"/>
+    <SlowWidget value="state.value"/>
+    <NotificationList t-asyncroot="1" notifications="state.notifs"/>
   </div>
 
   <div t-name="SlowWidget" class="value" >
diff --git a/tools/playground/templates.xml b/tools/playground/templates.xml
index 9a4d82a7..1c67cc6d 100644
--- a/tools/playground/templates.xml
+++ b/tools/playground/templates.xml
@@ -24,14 +24,14 @@
           <a class="btn flash" t-on-click="downloadCode" title="Download a Zip with this Code"><i class="fas fa-download"></i></a>
           <a class="layout-selector flash" t-on-click="toggleLayout" title="Toggle Layout"><i class="fas"  t-att-class="state.splitLayout ?  'fa-toggle-on' : 'fa-toggle-off'"></i></a>
         </div>
-        <t t-widget="TabbedEditor"
+        <TabbedEditor
             js="state.js"
             css="!state.splitLayout and state.css"
             xml="!state.splitLayout and state.js"
             t-att-style="topEditorStyle"/>
         <t t-if="state.splitLayout">
           <div class="separator horizontal"/>
-          <t t-widget="TabbedEditor" t-keepalive="1"
+          <TabbedEditor t-keepalive="1"
              js="false"
              css="state.css"
              xml="state.xml"