Web Services - Description Language (WSDL)

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The Web Services Description Language (WSDL, pronounced 'wiz-dəl' or spelled out, 'W-S-D-L') is an XML-based language that provides a model for describing the functions of Web services.

For example, a banking Web service may implement functions to:

• check an account,
• print a statement,
• and deposit and withdraw funds.

These functions are described in a WSDL file that any consumer can invoke to access the banking Web service.

A WSDL file is a public contract that specifies:

• what the Web service looks like, such as the list of supported operations,
• the signature and shape of each operation,
• the protocols and transports that can be used when invoking the operations,
• and the XML Schema data types that are used when transporting the data.

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Reference

• wiki/Web_Services_Description_Language