service oriented architecture (SOA)

A service-oriented architecture, Service Oriented Architecture( SOA), represents a flexible, adaptable IT architecture that supports distributed data processing. Since all applications are integrated into the SOA architecture, those responsible are quickly informed about ongoing processes and events and can react flexibly to deviations, for example in production or quality control.

The SOA architecture represents a modularization of processes and systems as well as their linking by means of web services. On this basis, companies can act almost in real time and react to deviations in the shortest possible time. The SOA architecture considers processes that are implemented via various applications, and not individual applications. The underlying IT architecture acts as an information hub on which the processes are handled. This means that each module of a process can be modified independently of other modules.

In the SOA architecture, functions are created as services and shared by the applications. The applications access these services with the help of a service-oriented middleware infrastructure. The Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) distinguishes between reusable shared services, such as the use of an address for several different applications, and applications that share services.

Because SOA architecture communicates via standardized Web services, vendor- and platform-dependent restrictions are eliminated. Possible platforms for SOA architectures include the Java application server and . NET from Microsoft.

Areas of application for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) are application integration in the context of Enterprise Application Integration( EAI), the integration of distributed systems, distributed services and web services.