What is SOAP?

A protocol called SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is used to exchange structured data when implementing web services in computer networks. For message negotiation and transmission, it typically uses various Application Layer protocols, most notably Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), and depends on Extensible Markup Language (XML) for message format. Various communication protocols, such as HTTP, SMTP, TCP, and others, are supported by SOAP.

SOAP messages are typically composed of an Envelope element that contains a Header element and a Body element. The Header element can contain application-specific information (such as authentication, payment, and so on), while the Body element contains the actual message being transmitted. SOAP messages are typically encoded using XML, which allows for the transmission of complex data structures and the ability to extend the protocol to support new features.

SOAP is a widely used protocol for building web services because it provides a simple, flexible, and extensible way to exchange information between systems. It is also platform- and language-agnostic, meaning that it can be used with a variety of programming languages and operating systems.

The ability to build web-based services is a feature that allows SOAP to handle communications and make responses that are independent of language and platform.

Although REST is the preferred method for most web data sharing, SOAP is still widely used because it is more standardised, allows for automation in some situations, and is more secure. Let’s examine the key SOAP features.