Lecture: Introduction to Web Services

Key Concepts

What is a Web Service?

• Definition: A service available over the web.
• Analogy:
  • Similar to a waiter in a restaurant who communicates orders between the customer (client) and kitchen (server).
  • The waiter ensures both parties communicate effectively.

Importance of Web Services

• Language Barrier: Similar to a waiter translating between a customer who speaks English and a chef who speaks German.
• Communication Role: Facilitates communication between different applications.

Practical Example: MakeMyTrip

• Scenario: Booking a flight from New Delhi to Mumbai on MakeMyTrip website.
• Process:
  • MakeMyTrip queries multiple airlines (Air India, Go Air, Indigo, Jet Airways, etc.) in real-time.
  • Receives flight data and displays it to the user within seconds.
  • Impossibility: Direct access to airlines’ databases is not allowed due to security.
  • Timing Issue: Data cannot be dumped and updated hourly due to real-time changes.
  • Solution: Airlines expose Web Services through an API which MakeMyTrip uses.

How Web Services Work in This Context

• Communication: MakeMyTrip sends requests and receives responses from various airlines in a common format.
• Real-time Data: Ensures up-to-date flight information.

Advantages of Web Services

• Standard Protocol: Provides a standard protocol/format for communication.
• Platform Independence: Enables applications on different platforms to communicate. For example:
  • C++ application on Windows 10 can communicate with a Java application on Linux using Web Services.

Future Learning

• Next Sessions:
  • Detailed architecture of Web Services
  • Different types of Web Services

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