Extensible, replaceable network component system

An extensible and replaceable layered component computing arrangement residing on a computer coupled to a computer network, the layered arrangement comprising:

• a software component architecture layer interfacing with an operating system to control the operations of the computer, the software component architecture layer defining a plurality of computing components;
• and
• a network component layer for developing network navigation components that provide services directed to the computer network, the network component layer includes application programming interfaces;
• and
• a first class included in the application programming interfaces to construct a first network navigation object that represents different network resources available on the computer network, wherein the network component layer coupled to the software component architecture layer in integrating relation to facilitate communication among the computing and network navigation components.