Today, W3C has finalized a Web services description language with full support of the primary protocol for the Web, HTTP and the most frequently implemented Web services protocol, SOAP. Web Services Description Language (WSDL) 2.0 incorporates both the improvements for WSDL 1.1 found in the WS-I Basic Profile, and builds in inheritance, import functions, improved description of faults and errors, and full HTTP and SOAP support. Rigorous testing and interop sessions, including week-long programming marathons by the working group itself, have produced a solid interoperable standard that delivers on the goals of the initial WSDL 1.1 version, and also meets the needs of Web applications developers today.
"It's been a long time in development, but developers can see it's been worth the wait," explained Jonathan Marsh, co-chair of the W3C Web Services Description working group and director of mashup technologies at WSO2. "In addition to the rigorous interoperability testing, we're pleased to have given developers the HTTP binding, which provides simple Web-friendly access to a service when the advanced features available in the SOAP stack, such as WS-Addressing, WS-Security and WS-ReliableMessaging aren't required."
