WSDL - limitations of WSDL

Here are the main limitations of WSDL (Web Services Description Language):

1. Complexity – WSDL documents can be long, detailed, and difficult to read or write manually. They require a strong understanding of XML, schemas, and namespaces.

2. Verbosity – Since WSDL relies heavily on XML, it tends to be more verbose compared to modern API description formats like OpenAPI/Swagger (for REST).

3. Tight Coupling with SOAP – WSDL was designed primarily for SOAP-based web services. While it can describe other bindings, in practice it is strongly tied to SOAP, limiting flexibility with newer lightweight protocols.

4. Steep Learning Curve – Developers need to be familiar with XML Schema, SOAP, and networking concepts to fully understand or implement WSDL-based services.

5. Limited Human Readability – Unlike API documentation tools that are developer-friendly, WSDL files are meant for machines and are not easily understood without tools or parsers.

6. Less Suitable for Modern Web Services – With the rise of RESTful APIs and JSON-based communication, WSDL is seen as heavy and outdated for many modern use cases.

7. Tool Dependency – In most cases, developers rely on auto-generated client stubs or IDE tools to work with WSDL. Without such tools, development becomes error-prone.