Hints about SOAP Messaging Protocol

SOAP which stands for (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a protocol based on XML which is specified to transfer information on disparate and various operating systems and to allow it to communicate with each other through the network.

Advantages and Disadvantages of SOAP

Advantages

• Simple Design,
• Reliability,
• Security,
• Easy communication between applications,
• Portability is one of the most important features of SOAP as it is an independent platform and language. So, it can be used in any language,
• Interoperability,
• It communicates through the internet.

Disadvantages

• SOAP uses verbose XML format which makes it slow,
• The modifications are not allowed. So, to add any additional parameter, you must create a new version or rebuild the application,
• SOAP relies on HTTP as a transport protocol, what makes the roles of the interacting parties fixed.

The SOAP message document includes

• Envelope which identifies the XML document as a SOAP message,
• Header which contains the information of the header,
• Body which contains information of calls and responses,
• Fault which contains information of errors and status.

So, from the above, we conclude that SOAP is an communication protocol (application) and a format for sending and receiving messages.