SOAP is a simple XML based protocol to let applications exchange information
over HTTP.
Or more simply: SOAP is a protocol for accessing a Web Service.
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What is SOAP?
SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol
SOAP is a communication protocol
SOAP is for communication between applications
SOAP is a format for sending messages
SOAP is designed to communicate via Internet
SOAP is platform independent
SOAP is language independent
SOAP is based on XML
SOAP is simple and extensible
SOAP allows you to get around firewalls
SOAP will be developed as a W3C standard
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Why SOAP?
It is important for application development to allow Internet communication
between programs.
Today's applications communicate using Remote Procedure Calls (RPC) between
objects like DCOM and CORBA, but HTTP was not designed for this. RPC represe
nts a compatibility and security problem; firewalls and proxy servers will n
ormally block this kind of traffic.
A better way to communicate between applications is over HTTP, because HTTP
is supported by all Internet browsers and servers. SOAP was created to accom
plish this.
SOAP provides a way to communicate between applications running on different
operating systems, with different technologies and programming languages.
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Microsoft and SOAP
SOAP is a key element of Microsoft's .NET architecture for future Internet a
pplication development.
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SOAP 1.1 was Proposed to W3C
UserLand, Ariba, Commerce One, Compaq, Developmentor, HP, IBM, IONA, Lotus,
Microsoft, and SAP proposed to W3C, in May 2000, the SOAP Internet protocol
that they hope will revolutionize application development by connecting grap
hic user interface desktop applications to powerful Internet servers using t
he standards of the Internet; HTTP and XML.
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W3C is Working on SOAP 1.2
The first public Working Draft on SOAP was published from W3C in December 20
01. To read more about the SOAP activities at W3C please visit our W3C Schoo
l.
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