Web Services
To a great extent, communication between B2B and e-Commerce applications is based on manually declared interfaces, message formats, and arrangements between business partners. This process can be simplified using Web services. Web services are Web-based interfaces that can be integrated into a company’s business scenarios based on open and commonly accepted standards. Web services enable you to combine functions implemented in different software components into a single process.
Web services are self-contained, modularized, executable entities which are accessible over open protocols. Web services:
● Use open protocols, such as HTTP, SMTP, and so on, for communication
● Use XML Schema for the description of their messages
● Process XML messages framed by using SOAP
● Provide endpoints using WSDL
● Can be discovered using UDDI.
In this way, Web services can be published, discovered, and accessed across a network. For a caller or sender, a Web service is a black box that may require input and delivers a result.
The SAP NetWeaver Application Server Java allows companies to extend their solutions by exposing and integrating Web services. It acts both as a server and as a client for Web services.
SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio Integration
The SAP NetWeaver Developer Studio supports the development of Java EE 5 Web services by providing various wizards and functions. You can open the Web services wizards by choosing File → New → Other → Web Services and select the one that suits your needs.
In addition, more functions are available from the context menu when you select a Java class, an EJB 3.0 session bean, or a WSDL file.
More information
Creating and Configuring Web Services and Web Service Clients