Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP)
is just a messaging protocol useful with WSDL.
A SOAP message is divided into a
messaging header
and a
message body.
SOAP facilitates
the actual sending of the input and output messages of WSDL:
<soap:Body>
<m:GetStockPrice xmlns:m="http://www.example.org/stock">
<m:StockName>IBM</m:StockName>
</m:GetStockPrice>
</soap:Body>
SOAP performs several useful technical functions in sending such
messages and can run on top of other protocols such as
HTTP and SMTP.
Just because a CIT service uses SOAP does not mean it is a web
service.
In fact, focusing on this low-level commonly-used transport mechanism
causes industry to lose sight of the potential of web services.
©2012
Charles Petrie - permission to reproduce widely with attribution.