Web Services
A web service is a software system that uses standardized web protocols (e.g. HTTP, HTTPS, SOAP, or REST) to communicate over the internet, allowing different applications to interact with each other regardless of programming language or platform.
Web-based apps are developed using a range of programming platforms in today’s corporate world. Some applications are written in Java, others in .Net, and still others in Angular JS, Node.js, and other frameworks. Most of the time, these diverse programs require some form of communication to work together. Because they are written in separate programming languages, ensuring accurate communication between them becomes extremely difficult. Web services have a role in this. Web services provide a common platform for several applications written in different programming languages to connect with one another
- Web services can be implemented in different ways, including:
- SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol): An older, XML-based protocol that provides more rigid standards for communication.
- REST (Representational State Transfer): A more modern approach to web services, using HTTP protocols.
- XML-RPC: A simpler protocol than SOAP, using XML to encode its calls.