SOAP Web Services Overview
SOAP web services are Extensible Markup Language (XML) applications mapped to programs, objects, databases or complex business functions. They use a standardized XML messaging system to send or receive requests to authorized parties over the internet. Companies can use SOAP web services to create standardized processes that other organizations can use or integrate with their own processes. As each web service's programming logic is platform-independent, SOAP web services offer flexibility and independence for integration across businesses.
We use the following protocols to publish, expose or access SOAP web services:
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WSDL (Web Services Description Language): a WSDL file exposes a Web service interface, interaction patterns and protocol mapping. WSDL can be readily interpreted by other applications, systems and platforms.
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UDDI (Universal Description, Discovery and Integration): A Web Service can be categorized and registered in a UDDI Registry so that applications can locate it and retrieve its WSDL. Currently NetSuite does NOT provide a UDDI registry.
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SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol): A Web Service can use the SOAP messaging format to define an envelope for SOAP web services communication through HTTP, HTTPs or other transport layers.
With SOAP web services, you can integrate existing business functions within your organization to NetSuite through the use of web services. SOAP web services enable real-time operations like data retrieval, addition, update, and deletion.