Object request broker definition
An object request broker (ORB) is software that translates requests from one computer or program to another. It allows different software components to communicate seamlessly regardless of where they are located or who has designed them.
See also: message broker, service broker
How an object request broker works
- Translating requests. When program A wants to request something from program B, it sends this request to the ORB. Program A doesn't need to know where Program B is located or how to communicate directly with it — the ORB takes care of everything.
- Locating the target program. The ORB finds Program B and establishes a connection to it. It could be on the same machine, on another machine in the same network, or somewhere on the internet.
- Converting the request. The ORB then translates the request into a format that Program B can understand. This step is crucial because Program A and Program B might be using different programming languages or data formats.
- Handling the request. Program B processes the request and generates a response. This response might be some data, a confirmation message, or anything else that Program A needs.
- Returning the response. The ORB receives the response from Program B, translates it back into a format that Program A understands, and then sends it back to Program A.
- Managing communication. Throughout this process, the ORB manages all the details of the network communication, including handling errors, ensuring that messages are delivered correctly, and dealing with any network-specific protocols or security measures.
