Portals are gateways to multiple websites and resources, offering services such as search engines, chat forums, and email access. They can be used by governments and corporations to communicate with citizens and employees. Portals can also be customized to suit individual interests.
The term portal has historically been used to refer to an opening in the walls of a gate, building or other structure. In this context, a portal has often been considered an imposing entrance to an important building. The definition of portal has evolved considerably in modern times. Now, it usually refers to a website that acts as a gateway to other websites. In other words, portals are Internet-based sites that present information from multiple sources consistently and that allow Internet users to access other websites.
Usually, web portals act as an anchor site for internet users when they initially connect to the web. They typically offer a range of information resources and often offer users some basic services. For example, most Internet portals provide users with access to search engines, community chat forums, personalized home pages, and email access. Additionally, a portal can allow users to check news headlines, review stock prices, get driving directions, or catch up on entertainment gossip.
Ideally, web portals provide users with basic functionality, such as search and navigation capabilities and information management. Additionally, a portal can usually allow users to access personal calendars and appointment reminders. As the technology becomes more advanced, some of these gateways also offer users the ability to customize their portal pages to suit their individual interests. For example, some portals allow a user to customize weather reports so that weather forecasts are automatically provided only for a specific city.
National, state, provincial and local governments can use the portals to communicate with their citizens. These sites can include anything from country, province, state, or city news to information about government departments and services. A government portal can also include statutes, speeches, consumer guides, and tax information. Some of these sites also provide job, education, and public safety alerts.
Corporate portals are also becoming increasingly popular. A company portal can provide both employees and customers with a variety of self-service activities. For example, employees might be able to use the corporate gateway to review benefit information, payroll data, or corporate documents and notices. Similarly, customers can use these sites to perform basic tasks around the clock, such as reviewing invoice and payment history, accessing purchase quotes, tracking product shipments, and collaborating on projects . Typically, these corporate sites are accessed using secure authentication login methodologies.
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