Microservices & Webservice: Learn its Architecture, Work & Differences

Microservices & Webservice_ Learn its Architecture, Work & Differences1_2
ON 18 July , 2023

Microservices and web services are distinct software architectures that serve different purposes. Microservices break down a large complex application into multiple small components, each with its own function and resources. This architecture enables faster development, better portability, easier scalability, and higher fault tolerance.

On the other hand, web service is a software architecture that offers services such as data messaging and communication over standardized web protocols. It encompasses applications, software, or cloud technology that can interoperate, communicate and exchange data over the Internet.

The trend towards microservices reflects the developers’ preference for building and maintaining large complex applications in a modular way. This allows for more comprehensive functionality across the application while reducing the complexity of the overall system.

Now, I think this brief introduction has surely piqued your interest in learning more about both services. Stay with us till the end to know more. 

What is Microservice Application Architecture?

When an application is designed as a set of small services communicating through lightweight protocols it is called microservice-based architecture. In simple words, it is a type of application architecture where the services are separate and independent. But it is not like monolithic architecture. And each service handles a specific task or function and interacts with others through APIs. It enables a large application to be divided into smaller units that can be developed and deployed separately.

This approach in microservices enables more flexibility and scalability in the development process.

Additionally, the microservice architecture makes maintenance and updates easier as it doesn’t affect the entire application. It also improves fault tolerance & resilience of services by isolating its features without affecting the entire application. 

How does the Microservice Architecture work?

Working on microservice is an extensive topic as it is a collection of services that communicates with each other through APIs. And when all these services are combined and enabled they function like an application. It is the enabling that’s the working of microservice architecture which is as follows:

  • Docker– It is a containerization technology that helps developers manage and deploy microservices.
  • Kubernetes– It’s an orchestration tool for managing containerized applications.
  • Cloud computing– It offers a scalable infrastructure for deploying and managing microservices.
  • API gateways– They provide a single entry point for external consumers of microservices and offer features to help manage access and ensure efficient operation.

Microservices Architecture example-

Initially, Amazon’s retail website was a single, monolithic application that lacked flexibility. To solve this issue, Amazon split the application into smaller, independent services managed by separate developer teams, leading to the creation of a microservices architecture. 

Netflix started its movie streaming business and faced scalability issues. Later, they switched to a distributed cloud system with AWS and began moving to a microservices architecture. This enabled Netflix to overcome its scalability challenges and offer its services to millions around the world.

What is Webservice Architecture?

When applications are propagated in a standardized medium to set up communication between the client & server on the World Wide Web. The architecture of web service interacts among service provider, requester, and service registry. 

Mentioning its benefits, web service provides a common platform to build multiple applications in various programming languages with the ability to communicate with each other. And talking about its usefulness, it is most helpful for programming platforms for developing web-based applications.

The answer to what makes the web service different architecture different lies in its design. It performs a set of certain tasks that can be searched over the network & invoked to provide the functionality.

How does the web service architecture work?

When there is mention of working of web service it refers to phases included in its lifecycle. And an implementation includes the following phases:

  • Requirements Phase– The primitive objective of this phase is to understand the business requirement & translate them into technological language. It begins with the analyst understanding the goals, consolidating them, and communicating with the development team.
  • Analysis Phase– At this stage, the conceptual models are refined and translated into web service by which the technical development can be understood.
  • Design Phase– The entire design of the web service takes place at this stage. The elements are identified, with defined web services with corresponding data types between web services & clients. 
  • Coding Phase– Coding & debugging are usually similar in every creation. The main difference in web service lies in the creation of wrappers, WSDL, and client stubs in web service.
  • Test Phase– This phase ensures that the developed service can bear load & stress. Some other tasks such as profiling & inspection of SOA web services are also performed simultaneously. 
  • Deployment Phase– The primary task at this step is to ensure that the web service is deployed, configured & managed properly. It also ensures that tasks like specifying & registering web services are done with a UDDI registry. 

Webservice Architecture Examples-

Companies use web services architecture in cloud computing for common tasks such as integrating payments or registering users via social media like Facebook or Google credentials. Also, smart assistants like Siri or Alexa also forecast the weather using Google Maps and weather applications with is another example of a service used by all of us in our day-to-day routine.

In a nutshell, whether you choose microservices as a part of it or shift towards web service, both can make your business agile with the right deployment.

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