SOA - Basics

[Bhairava Surya]

Hi All,

I have seen so many definitions/information regarding SOA over net. But I am not clear with none of those definitions.
So, instead of pointing to some other URL/POST can someone clearly(with example) explain what SOA is all about??

Thanks & Regards,
Ravi.

[Madura Harshana]

SOAP is a simple XML based protocol to exchange messages over HTTP

Its W3C recommended, platform independent, language independent communication protocol.

this is a simple SOAP message format,

Its required Envelope element as a root element

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<soap:Envelope
xmlns:soap="http://www.w3.org/2001/12/soap-envelope"
soap:encodingStyle="http://www.w3.org/2001/12/soap-encoding">

<soap:Header>
---Header Information--
</soap:Header>

<soap:Body>
---call and response information --
<soap:Fault>
---error and status information--
</soap:Fault>
</soap:Body>

</soap:Envelope>

[Sumit Bisht]

Hi Madhura, Welcome to javaranch.
Ravi, it is hard to define SOA in a single term as 'it depends' upon the fact where it is applied. From a technical standpoint, it is a methodology (like OOP) towards getting distributed enterprise applications running in a scalable manner and promoting high levels of coarse granular reusability.
But as seen from the business perspective, SOA is a service delivery model that can be used to create applications in a component oriented manner.
This approach comprises not only of disparate applications interacting through web services, but also usage of higher level tools such as business process modelling through domain specific languages.
You can find countless examples in the Enterprise java community as there is abundance of vendors and tools as well as open source approaches towards SOA.
Imo, you can go through a particular approach towards SOA and then start analysing the other dimensions/ implementation technologies of it.

[Madura Harshana]

Hi Sumit,
You are correct. I only mention about SOAP.It was my mistake.
thanks