Module Architecture

Overview

Now that you are familiar with the Host and Portal Administration capabilities available within DotNetNuke, this chapter looks at a concept familiar to most portals — modules.

A module is a pluggable user interface component that processes requests and generates dynamic content. This definition is similar to that of an ASP.NET page, with the exception that a module can appear only on an ASP.NET page, and a page may contain any number of module "instances."

DotNetNuke provides a number of modules out of the box. Each module provides its own unique functionality, such as discussion boards, picture galleries, and document management. Developers can also create their own modules that provide alternate functionality.

By the end of the chapter, you should have a good understanding of the architecture surrounding modules and how they relate to the DotNetNuke portal system. This chapter also discusses the practical aspects such as management and installation. An introduction is also given to each of the modules included within DotNetNuke.