.NET Framework Technologies

NET Framework Technologies
By using the .NET Framework, isolated applications can be transformed into online services
that can be worked with over the Internet or in intranet environments, allowing users to
access the services regardless of where the users are located. Windows Server 2003 exists
within this framework, and the capabilities of the framework form the underpinnings of the
operating system. Anything you can do with the Windows operating system on the corporate
network, you can do over the Internet as well.
The concepts underlying the Windows .NET Framework are industry-standard technologies,
including the following:
● Extensible Markup Language (XML) A language that can be used to describe other
languages and to give form and structure to abstract data concepts. You give data con-
cepts form by describing their components and the relationship between the compo-
nents. For example, the concept of a customer could be represented by using name,
address, phone number, account number, and purchase history components.
For more information about XML and related technologies, I recommend reading XML Pocket
Consultant (Microsoft Press, 2002).
● Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) A technology that facilitates message
exchange in distributed environments, allowing XML-formatted information to be
exchanged over the Internet or an intranet. The messages exchanged can include gen-
eral requests and responses to requests.
● Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) A standard that makes it
possible to locate and discover information about XML-based Web services. By using
UDDI, an application can locate an available service and then discover information
about it.
● Web Service Description Language (WSDL) A language that can be used to describe
XML-based Web services. By using WSDL, function names, required parameters, and
returned results from an XML-based Web service can be published so that they can be
discovered through UDDI.
For organizations looking to develop Web-based applications, these technologies make it
possible to create online services that communicate with each other, learn about new Web
services that might become available, and then use a discovery process to structure messages
properly so communication exchange is possible.