Best Examples of WSDL Files (Updated 2024)

Software these days is more powerful than ever. They can provide so much information and functionalities for users. With applications' increasingly powerful abilities, have you wondered how it is all achievable?

One type of file that appears often in the hindsight of application development is a WSDL file, but what is it?

What is a WSDL File?

WSDL (Web Services Description Language) files allow different applications to communicate with each other over a network in a standardized way. It connects web service providers and consumers, allowing data exchanges between, but not limited to, the two parties.

WSDL files are also known for providing ample description regarding a web service's capabilities, specifically for SOAP-based web services. WSDL files are written in XML (eXtensible Markup Language) language and are vital for SOAP APIs' testing.

More importantly, WSDL files are significant due to the definition of a formal agreement between the web service provider and the service consumer. WSDL files show what operations are available, the format and structure of messages, and other important details required when using the web service.

Structure of WSDL Files With Examples

WSDL files have key components that provide information for using it. This article will demonstrate parts of a WSDL file in XML language, using a weather web service as an example.

Types type

WSDL files type section is used to define the data types that will be used in the web service operations.

<types>
    <schema xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" targetNamespace="http://example.com/weather">
        <element name="City" type="string"/>
        <element name="Weather" type="string"/>
    </schema>
</types>

This example specifies the structure of the  elements, including their names City and Weather being of the string type.

Message message

The message section defines the data elements that are being exchanged between the web service provider and the service user. In the examples above, you can see the message names GetWeatherRequest and GetWeatherResponse.

<message name="GetWeatherRequest">
    <part name="City" element="tns:City"/>
</message>
<message name="GetWeatherResponse">
    <part name="Weather" element="tns:Weather"/>
</message>

Here, GetWeatherRequest and GetWeatherResponse messages are defined with a part specifying the data elements being sent or received.

Port Type portType

The portType section describes a set of operations that can be performed by the web service, such as the operation name GetWeather. It defines the abstract interface for the service, listing the operations along with their input tns:GetWeatherRequest and output tns:GetWeatherResponse messages.

<portType name="WeatherServicePortType">
    <operation name="GetWeather">
        <input message="tns:GetWeatherRequest"/>
        <output message="tns:GetWeatherResponse"/>
    </operation>
</portType>

The example above shows WeatherServicePortType a defined operation GetWeather with specified input and output messages.

Binding binding

The binding section specifies how the abstract operations defined in portType are mapped to a concrete protocol for communication. It defines details such as the message format and the protocol (e.g., SOAP).

<binding name="WeatherServiceSoapBinding" type="tns:WeatherServicePortType">
    <soap:binding style="document" transport="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/http"/>
    <operation name="GetWeather">
        <soap:operation soapAction="http://example.com/weather/GetWeather"/>
        <input>
            <soap:body use="literal"/>
        </input>
        <output>
            <soap:body use="literal"/>
        </output>
    </operation>
</binding>

In this example, WeatherServiceSoapBinding is defined with SOAP as the binding protocol, specifying details about the message format and transport.

Port port

The port section specifies the network address where the web service can be accessed.

<service name="WeatherService">
    <port name="WeatherServicePort" binding="tns:WeatherServiceSoapBinding">
        <soap:address location="http://example.com/weather/service"/>
    </port>
</service>

Here, WeatherService is defined with WeatherServicePort that uses the SOAP binding, and its address is specified as http://example.com/weather/service.

Examples of WSDL Files

Simple Weather Web Service WSDL File Example

Compiling the different key component code snippets provided in the previous section, we can combine them together and create a simple weather web service WSDL file.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<definitions xmlns="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/"
             xmlns:soap="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/soap/"
             xmlns:tns="http://example.com/weather"
             targetNamespace="http://example.com/weather">

    <types>
        <schema xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" targetNamespace="http://example.com/weather">
            <element name="City" type="string"/>
            <element name="Weather" type="string"/>
        </schema>
    </types>

    <message name="GetWeatherRequest">
        <part name="City" element="tns:City"/>
    </message>
    <message name="GetWeatherResponse">
        <part name="Weather" element="tns:Weather"/>
    </message>

    <portType name="WeatherServicePortType">
        <operation name="GetWeather">
            <input message="tns:GetWeatherRequest"/>
            <output message="tns:GetWeatherResponse"/>
        </operation>
    </portType>

    <binding name="WeatherServiceSoapBinding" type="tns:WeatherServicePortType">
        <soap:binding style="document" transport="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/http"/>
        <operation name="GetWeather">
            <soap:operation soapAction="http://example.com/weather/GetWeather"/>
            <input>
                <soap:body use="literal"/>
            </input>
            <output>
                <soap:body use="literal"/>
            </output>
        </operation>
    </binding>

    <service name="WeatherService">
        <port name="WeatherServicePort" binding="tns:WeatherServiceSoapBinding">
            <soap:address location="http://example.com/weather/service"/>
        </port>
    </service>

</definitions>

In this simple weather web service example, it can be observed that:

• The web service operates under the namespace http://example.com/weather.
• It defines two simple data types: City and Weather.
• There are two messages, GetWeatherRequest and GetWeatherResponse, specifying the input and output data for the GetWeather operation.
• WeatherServicePortType port type defines the GetWeather operation.
• WeatherServiceSoapBinding specifies that the communication will use SOAP with a specific style and transport.
• WeatherService service has a port named WeatherServicePort using the SOAP binding, and its address is http://example.com/weather/service.

Complex E-Commerce Web Service WSDL File Example

Here is a more complicated e-commerce web service WSDL file example that includes multiple operations, data types, and features.

?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<definitions xmlns="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/"
             xmlns:soap="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/wsdl/soap/"
             xmlns:tns="http://example.com/ecommerce"
             targetNamespace="http://example.com/ecommerce">

    <types>
        <schema xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" targetNamespace="http://example.com/ecommerce">
            <element name="Product">
                <complexType>
                    <sequence>
                        <element name="ProductId" type="string"/>
                        <element name="ProductName" type="string"/>
                        <element name="Price" type="decimal"/>
                    </sequence>
                </complexType>
            </element>
            <element name="Order">
                <complexType>
                    <sequence>
                        <element name="OrderId" type="string"/>
                        <element name="CustomerName" type="string"/>
                        <element name="Products" type="tns:Product" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded"/>
                    </sequence>
                </complexType>
            </element>
        </schema>
    </types>

    <message name="GetProductRequest">
        <part name="ProductId" element="tns:ProductId"/>
    </message>
    <message name="GetProductResponse">
        <part name="Product" element="tns:Product"/>
    </message>

    <message name="PlaceOrderRequest">
        <part name="Order" element="tns:Order"/>
    </message>
    <message name="PlaceOrderResponse">
        <part name="Confirmation" type="string"/>
    </message>

    <portType name="ECommerceServicePortType">
        <operation name="GetProduct">
            <input message="tns:GetProductRequest"/>
            <output message="tns:GetProductResponse"/>
        </operation>
        <operation name="PlaceOrder">
            <input message="tns:PlaceOrderRequest"/>
            <output message="tns:PlaceOrderResponse"/>
        </operation>
    </portType>

    <binding name="ECommerceServiceSoapBinding" type="tns:ECommerceServicePortType">
        <soap:binding style="document" transport="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/http"/>
        <operation name="GetProduct">
            <soap:operation soapAction="http://example.com/ecommerce/GetProduct"/>
            <input>
                <soap:body use="literal"/>
            </input>
            <output>
                <soap:body use="literal"/>
            </output>
        </operation>
        <operation name="PlaceOrder">
            <soap:operation soapAction="http://example.com/ecommerce/PlaceOrder"/>
            <input>
                <soap:body use="literal"/>
            </input>
            <output>
                <soap:body use="literal"/>
            </output>
        </operation>
    </binding>

    <service name="ECommerceService">
        <port name="ECommerceServicePort" binding="tns:ECommerceServiceSoapBinding">
            <soap:address location="http://example.com/ecommerce/service"/>
        </port>
    </service>

</definitions>

In this complex e-commerce web service example, it can be observed that:

• Complex data types Product and Order are defined with nested elements (like ProductID, ProductName, and Price) and sequences.
• Multiple operations GetProduct and PlaceOrder are defined within the ECommerceServicePortType.
• Messages GetProductRequest, GetProductResponse, PlaceOrderRequest, PlaceOrderResponse are defined for each operation, specifying the input and output data.
• The SOAP binding ECommerceServiceSoapBinding specifies the formatting details for communication using SOAP.
• The service ECommerceService has a port named ECommerceServicePort using the SOAP binding, and its address is specified as http://example.com/ecommerce/service.

Editing WSDL Files Using Apidog

As WSDL files are relatively common in the software development scene, you might have to edit or create one yourself. With tons of API platforms out there, Apidog is an excellent choice.

Apidog allows developers, web service providers, and web service users of any background to make a seamless transition from other API platforms over to Apidog.

Fortunately, Apidog also covers WSDL file imports! If you are interested in trying it out, make sure to download Apidog using the buttons below.

Don't forget to sign in and start a new project once you enter. If you need help, take a look at Apidog's Help Docs.

Importing Your SOAP API Onto Apidog from a WSDL File

Once you have opened a new project, click the "Settings" button on the vertical toolbar found on the left side of the Apidog window. Then, click on Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 in that order.

Testing SOAP API Easily on Apidog

If you have successfully imported the WSDL file, you should see its name on the left side of the screen, as shown around Arrow 1.

To start editing the WSDL file, click Arrows 2 to 4 in ascending order, and you're good to go!

Conclusion

With WSDL files based on XML (eXtensible Markup Language), it is slightly easier to understand. WSDL files may vary in complexity depending on how specific the descriptions and functionalities of the web service are.