application integration (enterprise application integration or EAI)
Application integration (sometimes called enterprise application integration or EAI) is the
process of bringing data
or a function from one application
program together with that of another application program. Where these programs already exist, the
process is sometimes realized by using middleware,
either packaged by a vendor or written on a custom basis. An common challenge for an enterprise is
to integrate an existing (or legacy) program with a new program or with a Web service program of
another company.
In general, for new applications, the use of object-oriented
programming and actual or de facto standard development tools and interfaces (such as Java or .NET)
will help ensure that new application programs can be easily integrated with those that may be
needed in the future. The Extensible Markup Language (XML) promises to
serve as a tool for exchanging data among disparate programs in a standard way.
Contributor(s): Rosa Chang
This was last updated in September 2005
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