The SOAP message path is the set of SOAP nodes through
which a single SOAP message passes, including the initial SOAP sender,
zero or more SOAP intermediaries, and an ultimate SOAP receiver
In the simplest case, a SOAP message is transmitted between two
nodes; that is, from a SOAP sender to a SOAP receiver.
However, in more complex cases, messages can be processed by SOAP
intermediary nodes, which receive a SOAP message and then send
it to the next node. Figure 1 shows
an example of a SOAP message path, in which a SOAP message is transmitted
from the initial SOAP sender node to the ultimate SOAP receiver node,
passing through two SOAP intermediary nodes on its route.Figure 1. An example of a SOAP message path
A SOAP intermediary is both a SOAP receiver and a SOAP sender.
It can, and in some cases must, process the header blocks in the SOAP
message, and it forwards the SOAP message toward its ultimate receiver.
The ultimate SOAP receiver is the final destination
of a SOAP message. As well as processing the header blocks, it processes
the SOAP body. In some circumstances, a SOAP message might not reach
an ultimate SOAP receiver; for example, because of a problem at a
SOAP intermediary.
