Z39.50: An Information Retrieval Protocol
American National & International Standard
- Information Retrieval (Z39.50): Application Service Definition and Protocol Specification
Specifies a client/server protocol for two computers to communicate (application protocol)
- formats and procedures for exchanging messages
Focus of protocol is information retrieval
- searching databases provided by server
- retrieving database records identified in a search
Protocol is implemented in client and server software (invisible to user)