An Aggregator

Popularly known as feed reader or news reader, an Aggregator is a web application (generally referred to as client software) which presents syndicated contents like blogs or podcasts in an easy format. Many websites today use this special feature or software to make their site more user friendly. It updates the contents at regular intervals and manages the feed from time to time.

Aggregator, a special member of web 2.0 family, is not known to many since it gets bogged down under the names like RSS feed reader or news reader. But in actuality, the basic term is aggregator, which is responsible for the functionality of these feed readers. It has been termed as the building block of desktop application akin to web 2.0 features. Since the data is retrieved in terms of RSS or XML, user readability is easily achieved.

An aggregator is of different varieties. Media aggregator, search engine aggregator, client libraries aggregator and tickers are to name a few. It can also be used as simple client software applicable for web browsers and email programs.

Google reader, My Yahoo, bloglines, iGoogle and other web packages use the feature of aggregator. Aggregators are getting more advanced day by day and will continue to do so in near future.