Encyclopedia

service-oriented architecture

Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Wikipedia.

service-oriented architecture

The modularization of business functions for greater flexibility and reusability. Instead of building monolithic applications for each department, a service-oriented architecture (SOA) organizes business software in a granular fashion so that common functions can be used interchangeably by different departments internally and by external business partners as well. The more granular the components (the more pieces), the more they can be reused.

A service-oriented architecture (SOA) is a way of thinking about IT assets as service components. When functions in a large application are made into stand-alone services that can be accessed separately, they are beneficial to several parties.

Standard Interfaces
An SOA is implemented via a programming interface (API) that allows components to communicate with each other. The most popular interface is the use of XML over HTTP, known as "Web services." However, SOAs are also implemented via the .NET Framework and Java EE/RMI, as well as CORBA and DCOM, the latter two being the earliest SOA interfaces, then known as "distributed object systems." CICS, IBM's MQ series and other message passing protocols could also be considered SOA interfaces. See Web services.
Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.
Mentioned in
References in periodicals archive
Web services, service-oriented architectures, and cloud computing; the savvy manager's guide, 2d ed.
Jordan Ahli Bank will use IBM WebSphere software and business consulting services to build the service-oriented architecture foundation platform to integrate its applications to quickly aggregate critical data generated by separate systems.
More importantly, enterprise service bus is aligned with a service-oriented architecture that enables government entities in Jordan to be operationally receptive to changing conditions and customer interactions to drive greater efficiencies, reduce the cost of IT investments and minimize risk."
In order to implement a service-oriented architecture many approaches and technologies can be used.
This multiyear, multi-product effort utilises the company's engineering experience to build on the model-driven and service-enabled principles of Microsoft Dynamic IT and extend the benefits of service-oriented architecture (SOA) beyond the firewall.
While the industry continues to grapple with the inherent limitations of aging technology infrastructures, an increasing number of business and information-technology executives are discovering that service-oriented architecture can provide a strategic and tactical platform for immediate business flexibility and sustainable growth.
Service-oriented architecture, explains Ken Amann, director of research for CIMdata (Ann Arbor, MI; www.cimdata.com), "describes a style of multi-tier computing in which resources on a network are made available as independent services that can be accessed without knowing their underlying platform." SOA is the next battleground for IT vendors to make inroads into existing IT departments.
Leading insurers are looking to align and leverage business process analysis for both activity-based costing and service-oriented architecture implementations to speed initiative implementation and achieve greater payoff.
The IBM Enterprise Integration Team experts provide a comprehensive guide to planning, using and managing Service-Oriented Architecture, helping business readers migrate to SOA by sharing best practices and lessons gained from projects and development efforts.
Longview Solutions, a provider of Business Performance Management (BPM) solutions, has acquired Runser-vicenet Ltd., based in London, England, which has developed a unique performance management-focused, service-oriented architecture (SOA) development platform known as "DecisionX." The acquisition will allow Longview to further optimize its technology architecture and accelerate the development and delivery of its strategic product vision.
These solutions add to the growing suite of DB-Shuttle migration options that reduce high maintenance costs, provide agility and flexibility, protect legacy assets, attract and retain talent, and enable Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA).
Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.