For Developers

Developer's Guide

What are Web Services?

Web Services Overview

Web services are typically application programming interfaces (API) or web APIs that can be accessed over a network, such as the Internet, and executed on a remote system hosting the requested services clients and servers that communicate over the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) protocol used on the web. Web Services represent an extension of the concept of off-the-shelf software to that of software delivered as a service. Once established they are building blocks that will enable you to efficiently build and aggregate software and services for many of your needs.

Who should read this guide ?

This guide is intended for developers who plan to integrate their systems with the D&B Web Service Gateway (WSG) and leverage the data delivered via this suite of services in their systems.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Use of this guide assumes you are familiar with the following:

• XML (for an overview, go to the W3 Schools XML Tutorial)
• Basic understanding of web services (for an overview, go to the W3 Schools Web Services Tutorial)

In addition, for this guide, you need to be familiar with one of the following programming languages:

• C#, Java, .NET, PHP, Flex, PERL or others