Web Services and other useful concepts concepts related to Web Services. We will come to know what is an Contract ?, What is WSDL ?, What is XSD and What is difference between Contract First and Contract Last Web Services.

What are Web Services ?

Web Services are xml based independent and self descriptive application components that are used to communicate with open protocols.

The core of Web Services is a combination of XML and HTTP (XML+HTTP), XML is used as a common language for communication in between different platforms and programming languages and HTTP is commonly used protocol that is used to transfer data between client and server.

Most effective reason behind the evaluation of Web Services is its platform and language independent nature, because of using xml as a communicative languages web services enables the developer to expose application functionality across the world without being worried about language or platform changes.

Web Services can be exposed in different platforms, most commonly used platform components are listed below.
1) SOAP
2) UDDI
3) WSDL

What is SOAP ?

SOAP stands for Simple Object Access Protocol, it is a xml based protocol that enables the applications to communicate over HTTP. SOAP is a w3c standard, platform and language independent format for sending and receiving messages. To know more about SOAP check out SOAP Documentation.

What is UDDI ?

UDDI stands for “Universal Description, Discovery and Integration”, where business can be registered and searched for web services. UDDI is an platform independent framework for describing, discovering and integrating businesses using internet. UUID is itself a Web Service that is built in MS .net, it is a directory for web services interfaces that are described by WSDL and implemented in SOAP. To know more about UDDI check out UUID Documentation.

What is WSDL ?

WSDL is an acronym for ‘Web Services Description Language’. WSDL is a simple xml document that describes a web service and specifies the location and operations or methods that a web service exposes. To know more about WSDL check out WSDL Documentation.