What is a Portlet in the context of Liferay?

In the context of Liferay, a Portlet is defined as a web component that performs a specific function within a portal framework. This aligns with the concept of modularizing web applications where different functionalities can be encapsulated into distinct units.

Portlets allow developers to create components that are reusable across different pages and applications within the Liferay portal. When a user interacts with a Portlet, it can display dynamic content, respond to user inputs, and connect with backend systems—all while being integrated into a larger portal site.

This design promotes a highly modular approach, enabling organizations to customize user experiences by combining various Portlets according to their needs. Additionally, Portlets are capable of handling events and can manage sessions, which further enhances their functionality in delivering personalized content to users while maintaining a clear separation of concerns across different components.

Overall, identifying a Portlet as a web component performing a specific function effectively captures its role in Liferay and similar portal environments.