Overview of Web Services
Web Service is as an XML-based messaging interface to computing resources that is accessible via Internet standard protocols. Please note that while Web Services may use “the Web,” Web Services are not tied to a single transport protocol. Although the most common way to exchange a Web Service request is via the Web transport Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), other transport protocols, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), can also support Web Services.
Definitive Characteristics
A Web Service exhibits the following definitive characteristics:
• A Web Service is accessible over the Web. Web Services communicate using platform-independent and language-neutral Web protocols. These Web protocols ensure easy integration of heterogeneous environments.
• A Web Service provides an interface that can be called from another program. This application-to-application programming interface can be invoked from any type of application client or service. The Web Service interface acts as a liaison between the Web and the actual application logic that implements the Service.
• A Web Service is registered and can be located through a Web Service Registry. The registry enables service consumers to find services that match their needs.
• Web Services support loosely coupled connections between systems. Web Services communicate by passing messages to each other. The Web Service interface adds a layer of abstraction to the environment that makes the connections flexible and adaptable
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