1 Scope

This document specifies an official OPC UA binding for the W3C Web of Things (WoT). WoT Thing Description can be specified with relevant OPC UA metadata that provides information such as how to access an OPC UA server and its datapoints (UA variables) and methods, as well as the security requirements.

OPC Foundation

OPC is the interoperability standard for the secure and reliable exchange of data and information in the industrial automation space and in other industries. It is platform independent and ensures the seamless flow of information among devices from multiple vendors. The OPC Foundation is responsible for the development and maintenance of this standard.

OPC UA is a platform independent service-oriented architecture that integrates all the functionality of the individual OPC Classic specifications into one extensible framework. This multi-layered approach accomplishes the original design specification goals of:

  • Platform independence: from an embedded microcontroller to cloud-based infrastructure
  • Secure: encryption, authentication, authorisation, and auditing
  • Extensible: ability to add new features including transports without affecting existing applications
  • Comprehensive information modelling capabilities: for defining any model from simple to complex

The W3C and W3C Web of Things

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), founded in 1994 by web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the internet. By developing standards and guidelines, the W3C promotes a web that is accessible to everyone, while also ensuring that internationalization, privacy, and security remain core principles. These web standards serve as the foundational elements of a coherent and universally connected digital landscape, being implemented across browsers, blogs, search engines, and other software. This widespread implementation ensures a seamless and rich web experience for users worldwide.

The Web of Things (WoT) Working Group at the W3C aims to address the fragmentation within the Internet of Things (IoT) by leveraging and enhancing already existing standardized Web technologies. By offering standardized metadata and reusable technology building blocks, W3C WoT facilitates seamless integration across various IoT platforms and application domains.