Web Services--A Buzz Word with Potentials

Abstract

The simplest definition of a web service is an application that provides a web API. The web API exposes the functionality of the solution to other applications. The web API relies on other Internet-based technologies to manage communications. The resulting web services are pervasive, vendor-independent, language-neutral, and very low-cost. The main purpose of a web API is to enable application integration, and bring providers (developers) and requestors (users) together. More specifically, web services allow integration of heterogeneous applications. With solutions in place agents and other applications can connect to the service, and use the predefined processes. A centralized depository keeps track of the available functions and services, and with intelligent recognition and discovery semantics dynamic solutions can be created. Standardized description, self-describing structure, and discoverable providers make it easier to use existing solutions in new services and setups. In a long term it also offers the promise of the automated web.

Parent Publication

• Monitoring Science and Technology Symposium: Unifying Knowledge for Sustainability in the Western Hemisphere

Citation

Füstös, János T. 2006. Web Services--A Buzz Word with Potentials. In: Aguirre-Bravo, C.; Pellicane, Patrick J.; Burns, Denver P.; and Draggan, Sidney, Eds. 2006. Monitoring Science and Technology Symposium: Unifying Knowledge for Sustainability in the Western Hemisphere Proceedings RMRS-P-42CD. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 779-782