Web Services Platform Elements


Web Services have three basic elements: SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI.


What is SOAP?

The basic Web services platform is XML + HTTP.

  • SOAP stands for 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 firewalls
  • SOAP will be developed as a W3C standard

For more information about SOAP, please visit ourSOAP Tutorial》


What is WSDL?

WSDL is an XML-based language for describing Web Services and how to access them.

  • WSDL stands for Web Services 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 yet a W3C standard

For more information about WSDL, please visit ourWSDL Tutorial》


What is UDDI?

UDDI is the abbreviation for Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration.

UDDI is a directory service that allows businesses to register and search for Web services.

It is an XML-based, cross-platform descriptive specification that enables businesses worldwide to publish their services on the Internet.

  • UDDI refers to Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration.
  • UDDI is a directory for storing information about web services.
  • UDDI is a directory of network service interfaces described by WSDL.
  • UDDI communicates via SOAP.
  • UDDI is built into the Microsoft .NET platform.
Other Extensions