Abstract: An informational component for accessing and displaying content includes a definition for rendering a graphical user interface within which content may be served from one or more network locations and presented independent from another application. The informational component may include one or more of a definition of a content element. The definition of the content element may reference a network location from which the content element may be transmitted. The content element may be presented within the graphical user interface. A provider of an informational component or informational components may thus create customized displays within which intended content may be rendered. An application component may be used in association with the informational component to manage the collection, organization, sharing, and rendering of a plurality of such informational components.