Description: An Object Request Broker (ORB) is a middleware technology that facilitates communication between distributed applications on different computers over a network. Its primary function is to allow method calls on an object to be made transparently, regardless of the physical location of the object on the network. This means that a program can invoke methods of objects residing on other systems as if they were on the same machine, simplifying the development of distributed applications. ORBs use standardized communication protocols to manage data serialization, method invocation, and error handling, ensuring that interactions are efficient and reliable. Additionally, ORBs are fundamental in service-oriented architectures, where they enable interoperability between different platforms and programming languages. Their relevance in today’s world lies in the growing need for applications to operate in distributed environments, such as in cloud computing and microservices systems, where communication between components is essential for the proper functioning of applications.
History: The concept of Object Request Broker emerged in the 1990s with the development of middleware technologies aimed at facilitating communication between distributed applications. One of the most significant milestones was the creation of CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture) by the Object Management Group (OMG) in 1991, which established a standard for interoperability between objects across different platforms. Over the years, ORBs have evolved to adapt to new needs and technologies, including integration with web services and microservices-based architectures.
Uses: Object Request Brokers are primarily used in distributed applications that require communication between different components that may be in different geographical locations. They are applied in enterprise systems where different software modules need to interact, as well as in web service applications where interoperability between different platforms and programming languages is required. They are also common in cloud computing environments where services need to communicate efficiently.
Examples: An example of an Object Request Broker is CORBA, which allows communication between applications written in different programming languages. Another example is the use of ORBs in enterprise management systems, where different software modules, such as CRM and ERP, need to exchange information effectively. Additionally, technologies like Java RMI (Remote Method Invocation) also function as ORBs, enabling Java objects on different machines to communicate with each other.
