Scribd
Upload
4 views4 pages

Soap and Wsdl 14 Marks

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a protocol for exchanging structured information in web services, using XML and supporting various transport protocols. WSDL (Web Services Description Language) describes the functionality and access methods of a web service, acting as a contract between client and server. Together, SOAP and WSDL facilitate interoperable communication across different applications and platforms.

Uploaded by

prathaplisa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views4 pages

Soap and Wsdl 14 Marks

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a protocol for exchanging structured information in web services, using XML and supporting various transport protocols. WSDL (Web Services Description Language) describes the functionality and access methods of a web service, acting as a contract between client and server. Together, SOAP and WSDL facilitate interoperable communication across different applications and platforms.

Uploaded by

prathaplisa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

SOAP and WSDL - 14 Marks

1. Introduction

Web services enable communication between different applications over the internet. Two important

technologies used in web services are SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) and WSDL (Web

Services Description Language).

2. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol)

Definition:

SOAP is a protocol used for exchanging structured information in web services. It allows programs

running on different operating systems to communicate using HTTP and XML.

Key Features:

- Platform and language independent.

- Uses XML to format messages.

- Relies on other protocols (like HTTP or SMTP) for message transmission.

- Highly extensible and secure.

Structure of a SOAP Message:

A SOAP message is an XML document with the following elements:

<soap:Envelope>

<soap:Header> <!-- Optional --> </soap:Header>

<soap:Body>

<!-- Request or Response Data -->

</soap:Body>

</soap:Envelope>
Explanation:

- <Envelope>: Root element of the SOAP message.

- <Header>: Optional information like authentication.

- <Body>: Actual data for the communication.

Advantages of SOAP:

- Supports WS-Security for secure data transmission.

- Can work over multiple transport protocols (HTTP, SMTP, TCP).

- Designed for enterprise-level applications.

Disadvantages:

- Heavier than REST due to XML.

- Slower performance for small or simple applications.

3. WSDL (Web Services Description Language)

Definition:

WSDL is an XML-based language used to describe what a web service does, where it is located,

and how to call it. It acts like a contract between the client and the server.

Main Components of WSDL:

<definitions>

<types> </types>

<message> </message>

<portType> </portType>

<binding> </binding>

<service> </service>

</definitions>
- <types>: Defines the data types used in the web service.

- <message>: Defines the messages (input/output).

- <portType>: Defines the operations available (like methods).

- <binding>: Specifies the protocol (e.g., SOAP).

- <service>: Specifies the endpoint (URL).

Example Scenario:

If a bank offers a web service to check account balance:

- SOAP handles the request and response in XML format.

- WSDL tells the client how to access the CheckBalance service.

Advantages of WSDL:

- Standardized way to describe web services.

- Supports automatic code generation in many tools (e.g., .NET, Java).

- Encourages interoperability.

SOAP vs WSDL:

Feature | SOAP | WSDL

---------------|----------------------------------|-------------------------------------

Type | Protocol | Description language

Purpose | Send and receive messages | Describe how to access web service

Format | XML | XML

Transport | HTTP, SMTP, TCP | Not a transport protocol

Security | Supports WS-Security | No security feature

Conclusion:
SOAP and WSDL are core technologies in web service architecture. While SOAP handles data

exchange, WSDL provides the blueprint of the service. Together, they enable interoperable and

platform-independent communication over the web.

You might also like