WSDL

Web Services Description Language (WSDL) 1.1

Abstract

WSDL is an XML format for describing network services as a set of endpoints operating on messages containing either document-oriented or procedure-oriented information. The operations and messages are described abstractly, and then bound to a concrete network protocol and message format to define an endpoint. Related concrete endpoints are combined into abstract endpoints (services). WSDL is extensible to allow description of endpoints and their messages regardless of what message formats or network protocols are used to communicate, however, the only bindings described in this document describe how to use WSDL in conjunction with SOAP 1.1, HTTP GET/POST, and MIME.

Status

This document is a submission to the World Wide Web Consortium (see Submission Request, W3C Staff Comment) as a suggestion for describing services for the W3C XML Activity on XML Protocols. For a full list of all acknowledged Submissions, please see Acknowledged Submissions to W3C.

This draft represents the current thinking with regard to descriptions of services within Ariba, IBM and Microsoft. It consolidates concepts found in NASSL, SCL, and SDL (earlier proposals in this space).

This document is a NOTE 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. W3C has had no editorial control over the preparation of this Note. This document is a work in progress and may be updated, replaced, or rendered obsolete by other documents at any time.

A list of current W3C technical documents can be found at the Technical Reports page.