What is a service-oriented architecture (SOA)?

A service-oriented architecture (SOA) is fundamentally about enabling different services to communicate and interact over a network. This approach emphasizes the use of well-defined, standardized services that can be accessed remotely and independently from one another. In SOA, services are designed to be reusable components that can perform specific functions, enabling business processes to be more agile and adaptable by allowing different services to integrate and work together seamlessly.

The architecture facilitates interoperability among diverse applications and systems, which can be particularly beneficial in complex IT environments. By decoupling services from one another, SOA promotes more efficient development and maintenance processes, allowing organizations to evolve their technology stacks over time without requiring extensive rewrites or overhauls.

In contrast, the other options do not encapsulate the core principles of SOA. For instance, while certain service-oriented architectures can support web applications, this choice doesn't define what SOA fundamentally is. Similarly, an architectural pattern for data storage or a framework for offline development do not relate to the primary focus of service-oriented architecture, which is centered around networked service communication and integration.