WS-BPEL (Web Services Business Process Execution Language)

Web Services Business Process Execution Language, usually the abbreviation WS-BPEL is used. It is a standard or language for automating business processes. It is basically one of the programming languages that aims to describe any process possible.

BPEL is based on XML and defines the model and the means to describe the behavior of the process and allows the execution of processes, which consist of calls of web services, which is referred to as the service orchestration. BPEL language was developed by Microsoft and IBM, and was standardized by a consortium OASIS (Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards).

Historically, several languages ​​used for describing business processes were founded. WSFL from IBM, Microsoft’s XLANG, BPML and BPMS supported by JBoss and Intalio Inc. Finally, with the cooperation of several large companies the BPEL4WS language was defined, which was submitted by OASIS to standardization. In 2004, this gave the birth to WS-BPEL standard (the name fits better into the family of WS-* standards), which is now in version 2.0.

BPEL Language in practice: BPEL language is perfectly suited to a clear description of the processes by which processes can be then mechanically exercised. BPEL enables organizations to automate their processes (so-called service orchestration). BPEL language allows description of the conduct and behavior of business processes as a sequence of activities, including their branches, which are engaged in the process, while these activities are represented by web services (WS).

The basic features include principles of structured programming (conditions, cycles, etc.), the possibility of error handling, support for long lasting processes, etc. Lack of BPEL is the absence of standard graphical representation. For this purpose, the BPMN notation is often used, but the mapping between the two languages ​​is not clear. BPEL has become in recent years an important standard that helps to use SOA, not only at the level of informatics, i.e. by IT architects, but also at the level of organizational processes. Process in the WS-BPEL standard describes the sequence and conditions of service call in a service-oriented architecture (SOA), also known as the orchestration of services.