# Hub-and-Spoke Integration (ESB)

A hub-and-spoke model connects multiple systems (spokes) to a central hub. Central hub is also known as Enterprise Service Bus (ESB). Messages are exchanged between multiple systems via the central hub, which acts as a mediator of all messages from one central place. Rather than messages flowing [point to point](/the-basics/types-of-application-integration/point-to-point-integration.md) from one system to another, they all go through one central hub.

## **Hub**

Hub orchestrates all messages between systems. Its important function is to decouple the direct connection between multiple systems. This way, the systems do not have to know about the data formats and protocols of other systems.

Hub handles tasks such as message routing, transformation, enforcing business rules, security, data encryption and decryption, and other related Integration activities.

## **Spoke**

The spokes, as individual systems in the hub-and-spoke model, are responsible for sending and receiving information from other systems. They interact with the hub to send and receive messages and do not connect to another spoke directly.

If spokes connect with each other directly, it is called [point-to-point integration](/the-basics/types-of-application-integration/point-to-point-integration.md).

<figure><img src="/files/PaR2tmclRpdIU6cRN7mF" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>


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