IVOA Recommendation: IVOA Support Interfaces

TL;DR

This paper specifies the minimum support interfaces for web services in the IVOA, promoting interoperability and standardization within the astronomical community.

Contribution

It introduces a standardized VOSI-compliant interface for new VO services, encouraging widespread adoption and interoperability.

Findings

All new VO services must feature a VOSI-compliant interface.

The document has been endorsed as an IVOA Recommendation.

It enhances interoperability within the astronomical community.

Abstract

This document describes the minimum interface that a (SOAP- or REST-based) web service requires to participate in the IVOA. Note that this is not required of standard VO services developed prior to this specification, although uptake is strongly encouraged on any subsequent revision. All new standard VO services, however, must feature a VOSI-compliant interface. This document has been produced by the Grid and Web Services Working Group. It has been reviewed by IVOA Members and other interested parties, and has been endorsed by the IVOA Executive Committee as an IVOA Recommendation. It is a stable document and may be used as reference material or cited as a normative reference from another document. IVOA's role in making the Recommendation is to draw attention to the specification and to promote its widespread deployment. This enhances the functionality and interoperability inside the Astronomical Community.