You can use the IBM® Web Service Function Designer to create DB2® functions that can access the operations of Web services.
Web services are self-contained, self-describing modular applications that can be published, located, and invoked across the Web. One of the distinguishing features of Web services is that they communicate through Extensible Markup Language (XML) over Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP). Using XML enables Web services to interoperate, regardless of their particular programming language or operating system. The Web Services Definition Language (WSDL) is an XML-based format for describing a Web service's external interface.
Web services provide access to distributed applications. They are used increasingly to integrate information processing within and between enterprises. When building service-based applications, Web services often need to be integrated with relational data. To accomplish this, applications must access both Web services and database management systems. The Web services consumer converts existing WSDL interfaces into DB2 scalar functions. Web service consumer functions can enable databases to directly invoke Web services by using SQL. By using SQL to access Web services data, you save effort because you can manipulate data within the context of an SQL statement.
With a Web service function, a data administrator or architect can abstract the location for the data from the programmer. After an SQL function that consumes Web service data is defined, the data that is delivered from the Web service appears as if it was actually stored in DB2. A Web service function delegates the data location and access responsibility to the database. This frees the programmer from having to understand location and access methods for different sources of data.
Developing Web Service Functions | Creating Web Service Functions