===== Introduction =====

//Software integration// refers to the process of combining multiple software systems, applications, or components to create a seamless and cohesive whole. This process involves a variety of tasks, including: 

  * data exchange,
  * interface design,
  * system testing (integration testing).

Software integration is important, because it allows organizations to take advantage of the strengths and capabilities of different software systems and bring them together in a way that maximizes efficiency and productivity.

For example, a company might use one software system for its customer relationship management (CRM) and another for its financial management (FM). The company can streamline processes such as sales and billing by integrating these systems and have a more complex view of its customer relationships and financial data.

Another benefit of software integration is the ability to reduce complexity and increase the reliability of an organization's systems. By integrating multiple software systems, organizations can reduce the number of different applications and systems they need to maintain and support, which can reduce costs and improve efficiency. Additionally, integration can help ensure that different systems are working together smoothly, reducing the risk of errors and downtime.

There are several approaches to software integration, including custom integration, using integration patterns, and integration platforms. 

==== Terms and definitions ====

These terms form the basics of understanding software integration and its related concepts.

**Software Integration**: the process of combining different software systems, applications, or components to work as a unified whole, facilitating seamless data exchange and functionality.

**Data Exchange**: the process of transferring data between software systems, which can involve various formats and protocols to ensure compatibility and accuracy.

**Interface Design**: The creation of interfaces between software components or systems that define how they communicate and interact with each other. This includes defining APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), data formats, and communication protocols.

**Integration Testing**: A level of software testing where individual units or components are combined and tested as a group to identify any discrepancies between integrated units.

**Integration Patterns**: Standardized methods or solutions for solving common integration problems, such as message brokers, service buses, or web services.

**Integration Platforms**: Software tools or platforms that provide built-in capabilities to connect and integrate different software applications, often through a visual interface and without the need for custom coding. Examples include iPaaS (Integration Platform as a Service) and ESB (Enterprise Service Bus).

**API** (Application Programming Interface): A set of rules and specifications that software applications can follow to communicate with each other. APIs play a crucial role in software integration by defining the methods and data formats for exchanging information between systems.

**Middleware**: Software that acts as a bridge between different applications or systems, facilitating their communication and data exchange. Middleware is often used in complex integrations to manage and orchestrate interactions between disparate systems.

**iPaaS** (Integration Platform as a Service): A cloud-based platform that provides tools and services to enable the integration of applications and data across various environments, including on-premises and cloud-based systems.

**ESB** (Enterprise Service Bus): A software architecture model used for designing and implementing communication between mutually interacting software applications in a service-oriented architecture (SOA).

**Service-Oriented Architecture** (SOA): An architectural pattern in which applications provide services to other applications via a communication protocol over a network. SOA is a foundational concept for achieving software integration across different platforms and systems.