portal in The Network Encyclopedia

What is a Portal (in computer networking)?

A Web site that provides a collection of services for Internet users, such as the following:

A directory of interesting or useful sites
A search engine for finding sites on the Internet
Public information services such as weather, white pages, yellow pages, maps, and stock quotes
Opportunities to purchase goods and services on line
Information and frequently asked questions (FAQ) for new users of the Internet
Registration services for receiving free newsletters via e-mail
Chat areas for discussing various topics and for building online communities
Games

Some of the leading Internet portals are listed below.