Enterprise Application Integration (EAI):
Use of software and computer systems architectural principles to integrate a set of enterprise computer applications.
process of linking applications within a single organization together in order to simplify and automate business processes to the greatest extent possible, while at the same time avoiding having to make sweeping changes to the existing applications or data structures
Purpose of EAI:
Data Integration – Data Consistency
Information in multiple systems is kept consistent.
Process Integration - Linking business process
Platform independent
User Friendly
Middleware :
Software that integrates different applications/systems.
Based on open standards (XML, SOAP, Web service, SOA).
Platform Independent.