Key Portal Concepts

Web Application – As defined by the J2EE. Can contain one or more portals.
Portal – A container that defines a portal application. Can contain one or more desktops.
Desktop – An instance of a portal that is accessed by a user.
Book – A container for one or more pages and/or books. Typically associated with a navigational control for switching the currently displayed page.
Page – A container for one or more portlets and books. Includes a layout to determine the placement of the contained items.
Portlet – A web component that serves as the user interface (UI) for an application.
Placeholder – A configurable marker used by the portal for rendering the specified item.
Template – A specification for creating an instance.
Instance – An object that is defined by a template.
Look and Feel – A style specified with a cascading style sheet (CSS) that applies to a desktop.
Theme – A sub-style within a skin that can apply to a page or portlet.
Shell – A framework for rendering a desktop.
Layout – A specification for determining the location of items on a page.
Workspace – As defined by WebLogic Workshop. Maps to an enterprise application.

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