Definitions

Here is a new list of definitions that were agreed today in our 
teleconference call.

Draft 2002-03-21

These definitions are drawn primarily from WSDL 1.1, and are intended to be 
used for purposes of discussion.  They are not intended to constrain the 
results of the working group.

Non-Normative Definitions
=========================

Web Service
"A web service is a software application or component identified by a URI, 
whose interfaces and binding are capable of being described by standard XML 
vocabularies and that supports direct interactions with other software 
applications or components through the exchange of information that is 
expressed in terms of an XML Infoset via internet-based protocols".

Client
Software that makes use of a Web Service, acting as its "user" or "customer".

Normative Definitions
=====================

Message
The basic unit of communication between a Web Service and a Client data to 
be communicated to or from a Web Service as a single logical transmission.

Operation
A set of messages related to a single Web Service action.

Interface (a/k/a "Port Type")
A logical grouping of operations.   An Interface represents an 
abstract  Web Service type, independent of transmission protocol and data 
format.

InterfaceBinding
An association between an Interface and a concrete protocol and/or a data 
format.  An InterfaceBinding specifies the protocol and/or data format to 
be used in transmitting messages defined by the associated Interface.

EndPoint (a/k/a "Port")
An association between a fully specified InterfaceBinding and a network 
address, specified by a URI, that may be used to communicate with an 
instance of a Web Service.  An EndPoint indicates a specific location for 
accessing a Web Service using a specific protocol and data format.

Service
A collection of Ports.





David Booth
W3C Fellow / Hewlett-Packard
Telephone: +1.617.253.1273

Received on Thursday, 21 March 2002 13:10:04 UTC