Introduction to WSDL

WSDL is an XML-based language to define Web services and how to access them.

What You Should Already Know

Before you study the WSDL tutorial, you should have a basic understanding of XML Namespaces and XML Schema.

If you want to study these subjects first, please visit our XML tutorial, and our Schema tutorial.

What is WSDL?

• WSDL stands for Web Services Description Language
• WSDL is written in XML
• WSDL is an XML document
• WSDL is used to describe Web services
• WSDL is also used to locate Web services
• WSDL is not a W3C standard

WSDL Describes Web Services

WSDL stands for Web Services Description Language.

WSDL is a document written in XML. The document describes a Web service. It specifies the location of the service and the operations (or methods) the service exposes.

WSDL will Become a W3C Standard

WSDL is a suggestion by Ariba, IBM and Microsoft for describing services for the W3C XML Activity on XML Protocols.

A W3C Note is made available by the W3C for discussion only. Publication of this Note by W3C indicates no endorsement by W3C or the W3C Team, or any W3C Members.

Study the W3C Note

Work in progress at W3C indicates that WSDL might become a W3C Working Draft before the end of 2002, and an official Recommendation before the end of year 2003.

9 July 2002: W3C has released the first public Working Draft of WSDL 1.2!

Study the W3C Working Draft

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