|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Web Services |
|
| April 2003 |
|
| DeveloperNet University Course |
|
|
| Reader Rating |
|
|
|
from ratings |
 |
|
|
|
|
Web Services Overview
Many people seem to struggle to find a definition for Web Services. At first, it might be easier to describe what Web Services does for the complex process of developing software and specifically Web Applications than assigning a definition to Web Services. Web Services is a newer approach to developing web applications. Web Services addresses many of these previously mentioned business and technical problems with developing software. Web Services improve on the distributed architecture software technologies such as CORBA and DCOM in many aspects, which will be mentioned throughout this course.
Very simply put, web services are a service delivered via the web that provides a way of exchanging data. Not only just exchanging data for users to see, but for applications to use. As developers, we already have a host of technologies available to us to exchange data so it is much more than exchanging data. Web Services provides an interface to exchange data between software applications on the web and call or execute remote software modules through the web. Best of all, it allows us to do this easily and cleanly. We will continue to build upon this definition as the course develops. Next, let's add to our definition by demonstrating why you would implement an application as a web service.
Why Web Services?
Web Services solves many of the complexities involved with creating software in today's industry. Breaking down many of these barriers is a reason to implement Web Services from both business and technology perspectives. Here is how Web Services attempts to solve the previously mentioned trends in the software industry.
- Complex code - Web Services are object oriented in nature, reducing the complexity and increasing the re-usability of the service. Organizations can "subscribe" to your web service and use it as if they had developed it.
- Distributed - Web Services are distributed in nature.
- Open Standards - Web Services are built using open standards supported by many companies in the industry so you don't have to worry about vendor-lock, or proprietary applications. This also allows web services to be device and platform independent. This is one of the few times when a standards body is keeping track of the development of a new development platform. Many of the technologies that make up a Web Service are specifications maintained by the W3C.
- Scalable - Web Services are built to be robust and scalable to many users.
- Separate Data from Presentation - The architecture of web services allows the developer to independently create the presentation to the user, for the service, separately from the data or logic of the software application.
- Limit Development Time and Budget - Web Services are not complicated to build. Visual Development environments such as Novell exteNd facilitate the development process. Since a Web Service is based on XML, it is very developer-friendly.
- Interoperability - One of the goals of a Web Service is to provide interoperability between applications, even legacy applications. A Web Service provides a common data exchange between applications written in different development languages and running on different platforms in a distributed environment.
- Provide Dynamic Content - Web Services facilitate the use of dynamic content in your application.
- System Integration - Web Services can facilitate integration between 2 or more software systems. System Integration used to be a lengthy, costly, and complicated process. Now, a software system can be exposed as a Web Service which will provide greater business flexibility in the process, save time, money, and technical resources allowing all parties to realize a greater benefit from system integration.
- Business to Business - B2B transactions are becoming increasingly more common. One of the primary goals of Web Services is to facilitate b2b transactions. A Web Service can provide a standard way of accomplishing business transactions with external partners, customers or other organizations. Businesses can leverage Web Services to collaborate with other external entities. A Web Service can simplify the technical implementation of the transaction process, thereby saving money, time, and technical resources.
Each of these is a general benefit of using Web Services. As we define the components of Web Services, we will see how Web Services can specifically contribute to each problem.
Components of a Web Service
Web Services are built on the following technologies:
|
|
|
|
