http://www.soamag.com The SOA Magazine is a monthly online publication provided by SOA Systems Inc. and Prentice Hall/PearsonPTR and is officially associated with the "Prentice Hall Service-Oriented Computing Series from Thomas Erl." SOA en-us Copyright 2006-2007, SOA Systems Inc. http://www.soamag.com/I4/0207-2.asp The distinction between service-oriented architecture (SOA) and event-driven architecture (EDA) can be traced down to message patterns. Understanding the implications of common exchange patterns, such as request-and-reply and publish-and-subscribe, helps determine both fundamental differences and commonality in these two complementary architectural models. It is appropriate and desirable to use the acronyms SOA and EDA to make this distinction, because both of these architectural styles are positioned in the same domain; SOA focusing on the decomposition of business functions and EDA focusing on business events. This article explores the differences between these two models and specifically studies how EDA patterns can be used to connect decoupled service domains. (First published in The SOA Magazine Issue IV, February 2007.) SOA http://www.soamag.com/contributors/bio-jhoof.asp#When:29.01.07