Data can be stored in a wide variety of formats, and it is recognized that not all terminals have the resources for storing the appropriate Application Program for processing and/or viewing the data as defined in a particular format. Systems and methods are described for dynamically processing a generic content expressed in a structured definition language. The systems and methods use an associated content handler having a set of instructions suitable for processing the content, such as XML content. The method comprises receiving a content envelope including the content and a reference to the associated content handler. The associated content handler is requested using the reference, the reference including a reference location for the content handler. Once obtained, the content is processed using the set of instructions of the content handler. The instructions can be expressed in script and/or code.