Web Services Business Process Execution Language (WS-BPEL) is a programming language that, like Extensible Markup Language (XML), enables the defining and creation of business processes as Web services.
Conceived in 2003, WS-BPEL is designed, developed and maintained by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS).

WS-BPEL was designed to define business processes and transactions associated with Web services or applications. This applies to directly executable processes and supporting abstract processes or the business process/transaction as a whole. It also incorporates a specification for the creation and management of business processes that interact with or are external to primary business transactions.
WS-BPEL also provides enhanced program control, data manipulation, process identification and business process orchestration.