Web and XML Glossary

Z39.50 is a standard for information retrieval, it specifies a Protocol for the behaviour of two systems communicating for the purposes of database searching and information retrieval. As a network application standard, Z39.50 is an open standard that enables communication between systems that run on different hardware and use different software. The Z39.50 standard was developed to overcome the problems associated with multiple database searching. Z39.50 simplifies the search process by making it possible for a searcher to use the familiar user interface of the local system to search both the local library catalogue as well as any OPACs that support the standard.