Overview
ISO/IEC 20944-3:2013 defines provisions for application programming interface (API) bindings to ensure interoperability of metadata registries, particularly those based on the ISO/IEC 11179 series. As part of the ISO/IEC 20944 series, this standard specifies common services and standardized API bindings for various programming environments, including C, Java, and ECMAScript. Its primary goal is to facilitate seamless access and integration of metadata registries across diverse platforms and operating environments, enabling portable and consistent software development.
Key Topics
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Session Paradigm
API access is structured around sessions, which provide a means to establish, manage, and terminate connections to metadata registries. This paradigm supports robust, stateful interactions and allows for effective navigation and operation within a data repository.
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Security Framework
The standard adopts a parameterized security framework, supporting various security techniques without mandating a specific implementation. Through Request-Response Authorization-Authentication (RRAA) services, it supports the integration of contemporary authentication and authorization mechanisms, ensuring secure access to metadata resources.
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Hierarchical Navigation
Data within registries is accessed via hierarchical navigation paths, leveraging Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs) as specified in IETF RFC 3986. This allows flexible traversal and management of metadata objects, which is crucial for complex data repositories.
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API Bindings for Multiple Languages
ISO/IEC 20944-3:2013 provides standard API bindings for C, Java, and ECMAScript. Each binding includes common definitions for session management, security, data transfer services, and navigation, enabling developers to implement portable solutions across different technical stacks.
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Conformance and Extensibility
The standard sets out a conformance framework, ensuring that programs behave predictably and can interoperate with any conformant registry. Provisions are included for future extensions, allowing additional API bindings or services to be incorporated as technologies evolve.
Applications
The API bindings and interoperability provisions of ISO/IEC 20944-3 are valuable in multiple information technology scenarios:
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Enterprise Data Governance
Permits organizations to manage and access centralized metadata repositories securely and efficiently, promoting data consistency and quality across enterprise systems.
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System Integration
Enables software developers to create applications or middleware that interoperate with different metadata registries through standardized API calls, reducing development overhead and integration complexity.
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Data Interchange Platforms
Facilitates the development of data interchange services and platforms that need to interact with varying metadata structures, particularly in heterogeneous or multi-system environments.
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Cross-Platform Application Development
Developers can design and deploy portable software solutions that rely on standardized API bindings, ensuring consistency of metadata operations across different programming languages and operating environments.
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Security-Sensitive Metadata Access
Offers the flexibility to integrate advanced or customizable security infrastructures, making it suitable for organizations with strict compliance or security requirements.
Related Standards
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ISO/IEC 20944-1:2013
Information technology - Metadata Registries Interoperability and Bindings (MDR-IB) - Part 1: Framework, common vocabulary, and common provisions for conformance.
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ISO/IEC 20944-2
Covers coding bindings, focusing on the encoding of data for metadata registry interactions.
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ISO/IEC 20944-4
Addresses protocol bindings, which detail communication protocols for interoperability.
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ISO/IEC 11179 Series
Defines core concepts and specifications for metadata registries.
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IETF RFC 3986
Provides the definition for Uniform Resource Identifier (URI): Generic Syntax, foundational for navigation paths in metadata registries.
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ISO/IEC 13886
Specifies language-independent procedure calling, which underpins service interface definitions for API calls.
By conforming to ISO/IEC 20944-3:2013, organizations and developers can ensure reliable, secure, and portable access to metadata registries, optimizing data integration, governance, and interoperability across IT solutions.