Anatomy of a UI

The following elements are the main constituents of your applications UI:

Portals

A portal is the chief interface of your application with which users interact. Portals provide users with tools to complete the assignments that are specific to their role, for example case workers or managers. When you create a new application, Pega Platform automatically generates the first portal for you.

For more information, see Configuring portals.

Harnesses

Harnesses organize the structure of portals and pages and define the overall layout of the screen. The various areas of the screen are represented by modular sections located in the harness.

For more information, see Harnesses.

Sections

Sections are the building blocks of your UI, which you can reuse in your application for better consistency and lower maintenance. Sections use templates that organize content into separate regions. Each region can contain properties, labels, controls, and other sections.

For more information, see Sections.

Design templates

Design templates are reusable structural elements with predefined components that you can use to configure portals, pages, and forms. By applying design templates to sections, you promote consistency and reduce maintenance because when you change a design template, all sections that use that template are automatically updated. Design templates cover many user interface scenarios, and require minimal effort during upgrades.

For more information, see Design templates.

Forms

Forms represents various steps in case processing. A typical example is a form that collects the personal information of a user who submits a service request.

Forms contain fields for collecting information, which are the run-time representations of some controls, for example, text input, phone, or email. Other controls help users perform actions in forms, for example, buttons or check boxes. Forms are also made of views. For more information, see Forms and views.

Controls

Controls introduce interaction to your interface with such elements as buttons, links, and fields, through which users initiate certain events, such as displaying a screen, saving their work, or advancing a work item.

For more information, see UI components in a view.

Accessibility

UI components in Pega Platform support assistive technologies for a more inclusive approach to users with disabilities. Accessibility features take advantage of ARIA roles that provide additional information about your application to assistive technologies such as screen readers.

For more information, see Configuring an accessible UI.

Localization

Localization helps you broaden your pool of application users by setting the product in an understandable context. You can also use a wizard to automate localization processes, for example, the preparation of translation packages.

For more information, see Localizing your application.