SOAP - 10 points to note

10  points to note about SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol):

1. Protocol – SOAP is a communication protocol, not just an architectural style.

2. XML-Based – All messages are encoded in XML, making it platform- and language-independent.

3. Transport Independent – Can use HTTP, SMTP, TCP, UDP, JMS, etc., though HTTP is most common.

4. Message Structure – A SOAP message has Envelope, Header (optional), Body, and Fault (optional).

5. Extensible – Supports standards like WS-Security, WS-ReliableMessaging, WS-Addressing for added features.

6. Built-in Error Handling – The Fault element provides standardized error reporting.

7. Secure – Supports authentication, encryption, and digital signatures (via WS-Security).

8. Complex & Verbose – XML messages are large and harder to parse, leading to slower performance.

9. Enterprise Usage – Common in banking, telecom, healthcare, and government systems where reliability and security are critical.

10. WSDL Support – Often used with WSDL (Web Services Description Language) to formally describe available services and operations.