9. A method for displaying content to a user, comprising: receiving a request for access to a first content and a second content in a portal by a user, wherein the second content is unrelated to the first content; accessing a directory entry for the user in a container hierarchy, the container hierarchy including at least one container; verifying that the directory entry authorizes the user as to access the first content and the second content; granting the request for access to the first content and the second content responsive to the verifying; assembling a content page including a first gadget to present the first content and a second gadget to present the second content; and displaying the content page including the first gadget and the second gadget to the user if the request for access is granted, comprising: identifying a device on which the content page is to be displayed; identifying a user language in which the content page is to be displayed; and selecting one of a plurality of layout information files (LIFs) for the first gadget based on a combination of the device and the user language, where each of the plurality of LIFs can be used with a different combination of a device and a user language, and wherein each gadget includes at least one layout information file (LIF) specifying a layout for each gadget on the content page and at least one layout strings file comprising strings to be displayed on each gadget.
9. A method for displaying content to a user, comprising: receiving a request for access to a first content and a second content in a portal by a user, wherein the second content is unrelated to the first content; accessing a directory entry for the user in a container hierarchy, the container hierarchy including at least one container; verifying that the directory entry authorizes the user as to access the first content and the second content; granting the request for access to the first content and the second content responsive to the verifying; assembling a content page including a first gadget to present the first content and a second gadget to present the second content; and displaying the content page including the first gadget and the second gadget to the user if the request for access is granted, comprising: identifying a device on which the content page is to be displayed; identifying a user language in which the content page is to be displayed; and selecting one of a plurality of layout information files (LIFs) for the first gadget based on a combination of the device and the user language, where each of the plurality of LIFs can be used with a different combination of a device and a user language, and wherein each gadget includes at least one layout information file (LIF) specifying a layout for each gadget on the content page and at least one layout strings file comprising strings to be displayed on each gadget. 10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein: accessing a directory entry for the user in a container hierarchy includes: identifying a container in a container hierarchy in which a directory entry for the user is nested; and inheriting, at the directory entry, authorization to access the first content from the container; and determining that the directory entry identifies the user as authorized to access the first content includes determining that inherited authorization to access the first content authorizes the user to access the first content.