c# - What is “Outbound Transaction” in layman terms?

Question

We are going to build WCF services based on SOA. During a meeting recently, client explained the new system environment. He used the word “outbound transaction”. Due to time limitations, I could not get it clarified. Then I made some search in internet. However it leads me to different topics.

So, my question is - what is “Outbound Transaction” in the context of “service orientation”? Can you give an example?

READING:

1. What is SOA "in plain english"?

2. What is a "web service" in plain English?

3. WCF, DataPower integration - secure binding necessary?

Answer 1

For the sake of your project, make sure you do as @Marc suggests and follow up with the client.

But, in general terms, for asynchronous or batch type communication

• Inbound message - the flow of the message comes into YOUR system
• Outbound message - the flow of the message flows out of YOUR system.

(obviously the direction of inbound / outbound depends on the point of view of the system or esb / eai hub - system architects on the other side of the interface will see things the other way around)

The word transaction might mean many things:

1. ACID Transactions (Single phase, e.g. SQL BEGIN TRAN, or Two Phase e.g. XA/DTC)
2. Compensated / Long running transactions (usually in context of a ESB or EAI or BPEL engine)
3. The data flowing between systems contains Financial transactions (i.e. business domain context, nothing to do with XA / DTC / SQL transactions at all)