Web services facts for kids

A Web service is a special kind of software. It helps different computer programs talk to each other over a network, like the internet. Think of them as Web APIs. An API is like a menu that tells you what a program can do. You can use these services from far away. They run on another computer that provides the service.

The W3C is a group that sets rules for the web. They say Web services can be many things. But usually, when people say "Web service," they mean programs that use HTTP. This is the same language your web browser uses to visit websites. These services often fit into two main groups: "Big Web Services" and RESTful Web Services.

What Are Web Services?

Web services are like digital helpers. They let different computer systems share information and work together. For example, when you check the weather on your phone, a Web service might be sending that weather data to your app. This happens automatically, machine-to-machine, without you needing to do anything special.

Two Main Types: Big Web Services and RESTful

There are two main ways Web services are built. Each has its own rules for how computers talk to each other.

Big Web Services (SOAP)

"Big Web Services" use a special way to send messages. They use XML (eXtensible Markup Language). This is a way to organize information using tags, like HTML. They follow a set of rules called SOAP. Big companies often used these services a lot.

These services often come with a map. This map is called WSDL (Web Services Description Language). It tells other computers exactly what the service can do. It's like a user manual for the service. This helps other programs know how to connect and use the service correctly.

RESTful Web Services

More recently, RESTful Web services have become very popular. Especially with internet companies like those that make apps for your phone. These services also fit the W3C definition. They often work better with the standard rules of the internet (HTTP).

RESTful services are usually simpler. They don't always need XML messages. They also don't need a WSDL map to describe them. This makes them easier and faster to build for many web applications.

Images for kids

• 

  Web services in a service-oriented architecture.