Microservices

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A software architecture style that structures an application as a collection of loosely coupled services that can be developed, deployed, and maintained independently
2. A method of designing software applications where functionalities are broken down into small, autonomous services that communicate over well-defined APIs
3. An approach to building systems that utilizes small, specialized services that can operate independently and are often managed through containerization technologies

Etymology: "Microservices" is simply the plural of "microservice", which is formed from the prefix "micro-" (small) and "service" (a unit of work offered to others). The compound describes a design in which a large application is split into many small, self-contained services that communicate over a network, each handling one business function and able to be changed or redeployed without touching the rest. The term is a technical coinage from the software industry rather than an older word that changed its meaning. The prefix "micro-" comes from Greek "mikros", meaning small, and it has been attached to many scientific and technical terms since the 19th century. Its use here follows the same pattern: a piece of a larger system, kept small enough to manage on its own.

Synonyms: small services, modular services, distributed services, lightweight services, cloud services