Enterprise SOA

Why is XML messaging so important to ESA?

XML is the language in which the double-sided conversation of services is actually conducted. The message itself can take several forms. The caller of the service might send an XML message and wait until a response is provided—a synchronous call—or he might send a message representing a service call that waits while the rest of the application continues—what's known as an asynchronous call. XML messages are analogous within ESA to individual neurons firing in the brain; they are the tiny unit of information comprising larger events.

XML is also a key open standard. It provides great flexibility for changing data representations without having an impact on existing components. XML has become the de facto standard for data interchange, enabling integration among partners, protecting the company's investments in its IT infrastructure, and lowering the cost of flexibility.