What is a Fragment in Liferay?

A fragment in Liferay is defined as a reusable component of content. This concept is central to Liferay's web development approach, allowing developers and content creators to build modular pieces of a webpage that can be reused across different pages or sites. By using fragments, users can easily manage content, ensuring consistency and saving time on web development and maintenance.

The emphasis on reusability means that fragments can encapsulate both visual design and functional elements, such as buttons, images, or text blocks, and can be manipulated or customized as needed. This versatility is crucial in modern web design, where the ability to rapidly deploy and assemble components can greatly enhance productivity.

In contrast, a part of a custom application does not encapsulate the modular and reusable nature that defines fragments. While user roles and database entries are important aspects of Liferay's architecture, they do not directly pertain to the concept of fragments in the context of web content management and design.