A user interface is automatically updated when the content sources that provide information or data accessible within an application are added or deleted. Associated with each category of content source is a content processor. The content processor determine the appropriate control elements that should be included in a user interface to access the content provided by the content sources associated with the content processor. The hierarchy and layout of the control elements in the user interface are suggested by the control processors as a function of the content sources that are available. Localization of a user interface in different versions of an application can readily be implemented simply by providing the appropriate content processors that define the user interface for each version of the application.