What is a data bus (ESB) as a type of integration?

Data Bus (Enterprise Service Bus, ESB) is an architectural pattern for integrating various applications and services within a corporate environment. ESB acts as an intermediary, facilitating message exchange between systems with different protocols and data formats.

Main functions of ESB:

• Routing messages according to rules
• Data format transformation (e.g., XML to JSON)
• Service orchestration
• Ensuring reliability and security of transmission

Example: a company has CRM, ERP, and warehouse systems that use different technologies. ESB allows them to exchange data without direct integrations, reducing coupling and simplifying maintenance.