SOAP introduction
SOAP is a simple protocol based on XML, which enables applications to exchange information over HTTP.
Or to put it more simply: SOAP is a protocol used to access network services.
The basic knowledge you should have
Before continuing, you need to have a basic understanding of the following knowledge:
XML
XML Namespace
If you want to learn these projects first, please visit our XML tutorial.
What is SOAP?
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
Why use SOAP?
For application development, it is important to enable Internet communication between programs.
Current applications communicate between objects such as DCOM and CORBA by using remote procedure calls (RPC), but HTTP is not designed for this. RPC creates compatibility and security issues; firewalls and proxy servers usually block such traffic.
Communicating between applications through HTTP is a better way, because HTTP is supported by all Internet browsers and servers. SOAP was created to accomplish this task.
SOAP provides a standard way for applications running on different operating systems and using different technologies and programming languages to communicate with each other.
Microsoft and SOAP
SOAP is Microsoft .net key elements of the architecture for future Internet application development.
SOAP 1.1 is 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 expect this protocol to revolutionize application development by connecting graphical user interface desktop applications to powerful Internet servers using Internet standards (HTTP and XML).
W3C is developing SOAP 1.2
The first public working draft on SOAP was released by the W3C in December 2001. To read more about SOAP activities at the W3C, please visit our W3C tutorial.