A pagelet/portlet is a web application that produces a self-contained, reusable user interface widget. Pagelets/portlets can be used for everything from displaying useful information to building integrated applications that combine functionality from multiple systems.

Every pagelet/portlet executes its functionality in a separate process. Most pagelets/portlets connect to a back-end application for data or functionality. The back-end for a pagelet/portlet can be any web application that returns HTML or XML over HTTP. The example below is a Oracle WebCenter Interaction Collaboration portlet that searches for projects based on a user’s selections.

All pagelets/portlets are designed to be displayed with other pagelets/portlets. Oracle WebCenter Interaction and Oracle WebCenter Ensemble both act as a gateway, processing and combining pagelets/portlets from multiple applications to create a single, unified page with a range of functionality. The code returned by a pagelet/portlet is parsed by the portal or proxy server and inserted into the appropriate location in the mashup page. Pagelets/portlets from the same back-end application can interact with each other within the page.

The Oracle WebCenter Interaction Development Kit (IDK) allows pagelets/portlets to access useful information and integrate dynamic functionality from Oracle WebCenter Interaction components.