SOAP Introduction

SOAP is a simple XML-based protocol that allows applications to exchange information over HTTP.

Or, more simply: SOAP is a protocol for accessing web services.

What you should already know

Before you continue, you should have a basic understanding of the following:

  • XML
  • XML Namespaces

If you want to learn these subjects first, please visit our 'XML Tutorial》。

What is SOAP?

  • SOAP stands forSimple Object Access Protocol
  • SOAP is acommunication protocol
  • SOAP is forbetween applicationscommunication
  • SOAP is a format forsending messagesformat
  • SOAP is designed toover the Internetcommunicate
  • SOAP Platform independent
  • SOAP Language independent
  • SOAP Based on XML
  • SOAP Very simple and extensible
  • SOAP allows youto bypass firewalls
  • SOAP will be developed asa W3C standardto develop

Why use SOAP?

For application development, it is very important for programs to communicate over the Internet.

Current applications use remote procedure calls (RPC) to communicate between objects such as DCOM and CORBA, but HTTP was not designed for this. RPC can cause compatibility and security problems; firewalls and proxy servers usually block this kind of traffic.

Communicating between applications over HTTP is a better method, because HTTP is supported by all Internet browsers and servers. SOAP was created to accomplish this task.

SOAP provides a standard method that enables applications running on different operating systems and using different technologies and programming languages to communicate with each other.

Microsoft and SOAP

SOAP is a key element of Microsoft's .NET architecture, used for future Internet application development.

SOAP 1.1 was submitted to the W3C

In May 2000, UserLand, Ariba, Commerce One, Compaq, Developmentor, HP, IBM, IONA, Lotus, Microsoft, and SAP submitted the SOAP Internet protocol to the W3C. These companies expected this protocol to completely revolutionize application development by using Internet standards (HTTP and XML) to connect GUI desktop applications to powerful Internet servers.

W3C is developing SOAP 1.2

The first public working draft on SOAP was published by the W3C in December 2001. To read more about SOAP activities at the W3C, visit our 'W3C Tutorial》。

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