What Is Meant By SOAP API And Its Advantages In PHP

• SOAP stands for Simple Object Access protocol. SOAP is an xml-protocol for accessing web services over HTTP. SOAp is an application communication protocol.Sending and receving message.simple object protocol, but in later times was just shortened to SOAP.
• Today it’s mostly used to expose web services and transmit data over HTTP/HTTPS.But it’s not limited to them. SOAP unlike the REST pattern, supports the XML data formate only & strongly follows present standerdssuch as messaging structure.SOAP was developed as intermediate language so that applications built on various program language could talk easy to each other avoid extreme development effort.
• While more ppuler in large enterprises, organizations of all size produce and consume SOAP APIs. A FInal advantages to SOAP is its extensibility . The extansibility model with in SOAP Specification Provides for Customizations.

• SOAP is the protocol used for data interchange between applications.
• Languges, platform, and transport independent(REST required use of HTTP)
• Work distributed enterprise environments(assumes direct point-to-point)
• Buit-in error handling
• SOAP is Standardized
• Automation used with certain language products

• SOAP message is an ordinary XML document containing the follow elements:

    1. An Envelope element that identifies the XML document as a SOAP message 
       - Containing part
        - Used encapsulate all the details
        - Root element
2. A Header element that contains header information
        - authentication credentials which can be used calling application.
        - Contain the definition of complex types
        - Contain parameters simple types such as string and numbers,  but can also be complex object type.
 

• Most likely need to include a SOAP library with your programming language
• Although it’s possible to make SOAP API call without SOAP libraries.
• Verbose, mainly due to reliance on XML.

• Separate it form other XML documents.
• Mechanism to identify the XMl a SOAP
• Tag requires a  namespace attribute
• Optionally supply an encodingstyle attribute

• Earlier sections, the header was empty
• Extensibility via SOAP Modules.
• Modules can either be required or optional.
• Include the mustUnderstand attribute set to true

• The required SOAP Body element contains the actual SOAP message intended for the ultimate endpoint of the message.
• Namespace can be used to describe what data to expact with in the body, but are not required.
• Procedure, parameters, and data all come through the SOAP BODY

• SOAP:Body tag for error messages when a SOAP API call is not able to complete.
• Inaccurate SOAP formatting process error on the server.
• Indicate error message.

    Code – identifying the fault
    String – A human readable explanation of the fault
    Actor – Information about who caused the fault to happen
    Detail – Appication specific error information related to the Body elemet