Web Services
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A Web Service is a software application identified by a URI whose interfaces and binding are capable of being defined, described, and discovered by XML artifacts. A Web Service supports direct interactions with other software applications using XML-based messages and internet-based products.

A Web Service does the following:

  • Exposes and describes itself: A Web Service defines its functionality and attributes so that other applications can understand it. By providing a WSDL file, a Web Service makes its functionality available to other applications.
  • Allows other services to locate it on the Web: A Web Service can be registered in a UDDI registry so that applications can locate it.
  • Can be invoked: After a Web Service has been located and examined, the remote application can invoke the service using an Internet standard protocol.
  • Web Services are of either request and response or one-way style, and they can use either synchronous or asynchronous communication. However, the fundamental unit of exchange between Web Services clients and Web Services, of either style or type of communication, is a message.