When we aim to standardize the way in which the different applications running in our infrastructure will communicate with each other, and how they will store the data, the EAI approach really provides us with an option that is not only flexible in nature but also scalable, without introducing unnecessary complexities into the infrastructure.

The EAI pattern provide us with a framework that consist of tools and technologies that help us standardize the way the communication between the different applications takes place. An EAI framework usually comes with the components that facilitate the exchange of data between the applications and their transformation from one format to another and act as a glue layer between the different applications.

With this approach, every application does not need to have an understanding for how to communicate with another application directly. Usually the integration between the applications is achieved through the applications talking to a centralized EAI arbitrator, which acts as an intermediate between the cross-application communication and translates the requests of one application for another application and propagates back the response.

All of these components that come as a part of the EAI framework are collectively known as middleware frameworks.

So, how does EAI work? Let's try to take a look at the different ways in which EAI was used to be achieved and how it's changing with the technologies moving forward.