IBM BPM, V8.0.1, All platforms > Authoring services in Integration Designer > Services and service-related functions > Access external services with adapters > Configure and using adapters > IBM WebSphere Adapters > Adapter Toolkit > Implementing code from the IBM WebSphere Adapter Toolkit > Data model

Verbs versus operations

Verbs and operations are similar conceptually but serve different purposes. Operations reflect the functions that an adapter can perform. An operation is directly related to the adapter performing it. By contrast, a verb is directly related to the business object in which it is specified. In general, the verb defined for a business object should match the operation but not always; some operations are unrelated to the verb.

An example helps illustrate the difference between verbs and operations.

If you wanted to create a new entity in the EIS using an after-image business object, you would specify an object verb of Create. Accordingly, a Create operation would invoke the adapter. If you invoke an adapter Delete operation with an object that had a Create verb, the adapter would report an error.

However, some operations, specifically those that do not fall under Create, Update, or Delete, do not require verbs.

For example, the Retrieve operation of adapters, which has the adapter query the EIS to find an entity that matches the business object, does not expect a verb. This Retrieve operation is unconcerned with what action lead to the business object being created (the information reflected by the verb); rather it is concerned only with retrieving an EIS entity that is reflected by the object.

The only time verbs are part of adapter processing is when the object has a business graph, and the function used is applyChanges. In that case, and only that case, the verb dictates the processing to be performed by adapter.

Data model