Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a design paradigm in software engineering where different services are created, managed, and shared across a network. This architecture allows various application components to interact with one another by providing services through standardized communication protocols. In SOA, services are self-contained units that perform specific functions and can be accessed over a network, facilitating interoperability and flexibility. This approach promotes modularity and reuse, as services can be developed and updated independently of one another, leading to more scalable and maintainable systems. SOA is particularly useful in enterprise environments where integrating diverse systems and ensuring seamless communication between them is critical.