ORB does the following:

• Searches, matches and instantiates remote machine objects
• Gathers parameters between application objects
• Handles security issues across machine boundaries
• Retrieves and publishes data objects on local machines available for other ORBs
• Invokes remote object methods using static and dynamic method invocation.
• Instantiates idle objects automatically
• Routes callback methods
• Communicates Inter-ORB Protocol (IIOP) with other ORBs via the Internet

Developers should handle ORB with knowledge and care when applied as a solution to recurring distributed environment issues. If handled incorrectly, issues may intensify. The disadvantages of ORB include:

• Lack of asynchronous transaction support
• Lack of nonobject-oriented legacy application integration support
• Lack of standard ORB implementation in CORBA standard

Microsoft has developed proprietary ORB approaches in the Common Object Model (COM) and Distributed Common Object Model (DCOM).