5.4. Web Services platform elements

5.4.1. What is SOAP? ¶

The basic Web services platform is XML + HTTP.

• SOAP refers to simple object access protocol

• SOAP is a communication protocol.

• SOAP is used for communication between applications

• SOAP is a format for sending messages

• SOAP is designed to communicate over the Internet

• SOAP is platform independent

• SOAP is language independent

• SOAP is based on XML

• SOAP is simple and extensible

• SOAP allows you to bypass the firewall

• SOAP will be developed as a W3C standard

For more information about SOAP, please visit our SOAP tutorial

5.4.2. What is WSDL? ¶

WSDL is a XML-based language used to describe Web Services and how to accessWeb Services.

• WSDL refers to the network service description language

• WSDL is written in XML

• WSDL is an XML document

• WSDL is used to describe network services

• WSDL can also be used to locate network services

• WSDL is not a W3C standard yet.

For more information about WSDL, please visit our WSDL tutorial

5.4.3. What is UDDI? ¶

UDDI is an acronym for Universal Description, Discovery, and and Integration.

UDDI is a directory service through which enterprises can register and search for Web services.

It is a cross-platform description specification based on XML, which enablesenterprises around the world to publish their services on the Internet.

• UDDI refers to general description, discovery, and integration (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration).

• UDDI is a directory used to store information about web services.

• UDDI is a directory of network service interfaces described by WSDL.

• UDDI communicates via SOAP.

• UDDI is built on the Microsoft .NET platform.