WSDL Overview

WSDL structure:

• types = XSD definitions
• message = abstract set of message parts of some type
• operation = set of input/output/fault messages (one-way, request-response, solicit-response or notification)
• port type = set of operations
• binding = port type + protocol and concrete format for the abstract messages
• port = binding + endpoint address
• service = set of ports

WSDL 1.1 bindings:

• SOAP (rpc/document operation, literal/encoded message parts, soap header, URI)
• MIME (content type of a single or mutiple message parts)
• HTTP (GET/POST binding, operation URI, URL encoded message parts, port URI)

SOAP binding:

• style (for operations)
  • document: the message parts (usually one) contain documents and are assembled directly under the SOAP body
  • rpc: the message parts contain parameters or return values and are assembled inside a wrapper element for the operation invocation/response under the SOAP body
• use (for message parts)
  • encoded: message parts are abstract type that require a specific encoding (SOAP encoding or other)
  • literal: message parts are concrete schema definitions