What is SOAP?

SOAP is an XML message format used in web service interactions. SOAP messages are typically sent over HTTP or JMS, but other transport protocols can be used. The use of SOAP in a specific web service is described by a WSDL definition.

There are two versions of SOAP in common use: SOAP 1.1 and SOAP 1.2. Both are supported in IBM® Integration Bus. SOAP is defined in the following documents issued by World Wide Web Consortium (W3C):

Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) 1.1 (W3C note).
SOAP Version 1.2 Part 0: Primer (W3C recommendation).
SOAP Version 1.2 Part 1: Messaging Framework (W3C recommendation).
SOAP Version 1.2 Part 2: Adjuncts (W3C recommendation).

Support for SOAP in IBM Integration Bus includes:

SOAP parser and domain. See SOAP parser and domain.
SOAP nodes to send and receive messages in SOAP format.
IBM supplied message definitions for SOAP 1.1 and SOAP 1.2. These message definitions support validation, ESQL content assist, and the creation of message maps for use with SOAP messages, in the SOAP and other XML domains. See Message Sets: IBM supplied messages that you can import.
HTTP and JMS transport to send SOAP messages. See the W3C SOAP over JMS specification: http://www.w3.org/TR/soapjms/

WSDL validation in IBM Integration Bus refers to the WS-I Basic Profile. For more information, see the WS-I, and in particular the WS-I Basic Profile document: