SOAarkkitehtuuri

Service-Oriented Architecture, often abbreviated as SOA, is a software design paradigm that structures applications as a collection of interoperable services. These services are self-contained units of functionality that can be accessed and invoked by other applications or services through a standardized communication protocol, typically over a network. The core principle of SOA is the decomposition of a complex system into smaller, loosely coupled services, each performing a specific business function.

The services in an SOA communicate with each other using well-defined interfaces, abstracting away the underlying implementation details. This loose coupling allows services to be developed, deployed, and modified independently without impacting other parts of the system, provided the interface remains consistent. Common communication protocols include HTTP and various messaging standards. SOA emphasizes reusability, as services can be invoked by multiple consumers, and composability, where complex functionalities can be built by orchestrating multiple simpler services. This architectural style aims to improve agility, scalability, and maintainability of enterprise applications by promoting modularity and standardization. The implementation of SOA can vary, but often involves middleware technologies like Enterprise Service Buses (ESBs) to facilitate communication and service management.