Portal builder software gives administrators a way to build online portals, or gateway websites that give other users access to functions and applications within one website, instead of having that user visit a variety of other websites for the same functions. Administrators should first determine whether they want a horizontal or vertical portal builder. A hierarchy support function will allow users to swap the order of functions to fit his or her preference, instead of being stuck with a static hierarchy. Most portal websites are visited hundreds or thousands of times a day, so the portal builder will need to have high performance levels to respond to visitors without lagging. Running a portal website alone is difficult, so there also should be a delegation-of-control function.
In the broadest sense, portal builder software is either horizontal or vertical. A horizontal portal is one that focuses on a category in which all applications and submissions are similar, such as an online game portal. Vertical portals focus on a very narrow and specific category, such as online action games. Depending on which one the administrator chooses, the portal software will come with different functions that support either broad or narrow applications.
All portal builder software acts as a gateway for many different applications, such as maps, email, news reports, etc. Most portal builders will come with a standard hierarchical model to organize these applications, but some users will want to move the applications around so the order is customized for that particular user; some users also may want to erase applications from their dashboard, because they are unnecessary and take up space. Portal software that enables users to perform these tasks will make the user feel more in charge of his or her portal profile.
Performance is a major issue for portal builder software, because most portals are visited at least several hundred to several thousand times a day, depending on the portal site’s popularity. The portal must be able to withstand a large amount of visitors, without lagging. Lags will cause issues for administrators and users will become irritated with the website.
At first, an administrator may run the portal alone but, after it becomes popular, it can be difficult for a lone administrator to complete tasks and help users. This is why many administrators hire someone to take these tasks. To allow this, the portal builder must come with a delegation-of-control function, allowing administrators to increase the user access, so they can perform the administrative tasks.