Chapter 2. Components of Web Services IN THIS CHAPTER In the last few years, the Java programming language, with its ease of use and portability, has revolutionized the way computing is done over the Internet. Simultaneously, the advent of XML, along with the development and acceptance of XML-based standards for different industries, has made it possible to exchange information between enterprises running on heterogeneous operating systems and hardware. The use of XML to do business over the Internet has been made possible with applications called Web services. This chapter is an attempt to describe Web services. You will learn the business necessity that has led to the development of Web services. You will also learn about the components that make up the Web services architecture. Then, each of the components of the Web service architecture will be described in some detail. The chapter will conclude with a case study on how the Java APIs for XML can be leveraged in the Web services environment to meet a company's business needs. |