Topic > Web Services Description Language

The Web Services Description Language (WSDL) plays an important role in the overall Web Services architecture because it describes the complete contract for application communication. WSDL is a standard specification for describing services. Describes service details in the basic information needed to make requests, regardless of run-time implementation details. WSDL also defines an XML format, to describe network services as a set of endpoints that operate on messages that contain document- or procedure-oriented information. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original EssayWSDL allows a service provider to specify the following characteristics of a Web service:The Web service name and address informationThe protocol and coding style to be used when accessing the Web service's public operations. The Type information such as operations, parameters, and data types that make up the web service's WSDL document interface allows developers to expose their applications as network-accessible services on the Internet. Through UDDI, other applications can discover WSDL documents and connect to them to execute transactions or perform other business processes. WSDL Basics A WSDL definition is an XML document with a root definition element from the http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/ namespace. The definitions element can contain many other elements including types, message, portType, binding, and service, all of which come from the http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/ namespace. Table 1 below provides brief definitions for each of these major WSDL elements, and the remaining sections discuss them in more detail. Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) Universal Description, Discovery, and Integration (UDDI) is based on a common set of industry standards, including HTTP, XML, XML Schema, and SOAP. It provides an infrastructure for a Web services-based software environment for both publicly available services and services exposed only internally to the organization. UDDI provides service definition and supporting information for describing and discovering services such as: Companies, organizations, and other Web service providers Web services available in the registry Technical interfaces used to access those services The idea is to "discover ” organizations and the services that organizations offer, much like using an address book or call information. UDDI is made up of more than 300 business and technology leaders working together to enable businesses and applications to find and consume web services quickly, easily, and dynamically. The UDDI business registry system consists of three directories: UDDI White Pages: Basic information such as company name, address and telephone numbers, as well as other standard business identifiers such as Dun & Bradstreet and tax numbers. Basic information about the company and its activity. Unique identifiers such as corporate tax identification information allow others to discover your web service based on your business identification. UDDI Yellow Pages provide detailed business data, organized by relevant business classifications. The UDDI version of the Yellow Pages classifies companies according to the latest NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes, the Yellow Pages contain more details about the company. They include descriptions of the kinds of electronic features the company can offer to anyone who wants to do business with it..