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WSDL PortType

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The <portType> element is the most important WSDL element.

WSDL - The <portType> Element

The <portType> element defines a web service, the operations that can be performed, and the messages that are involved.

<portType> defines the connection point to a web service. It can be compared to a function library (or a module, or a class) in a traditional programming language. Each operation can be compared to a function in a traditional programming language.

Operation Types

The request-response type is the most common operation type, but WSDL defines four types:

Type	Definition
One-way	The operation can receive a message but will not return a response
Request-response	The operation can receive a request and will return a response
Solicit-response	The operation can send a request and will wait for a response
Notification	The operation can send a message but will not wait for a response

One-Way Operation

A one-way operation example:

In the example above, the portType "glossaryTerms" defines a one-way operation called "setTerm".

The "setTerm" operation allows input of new glossary terms messages using a "newTermValues" message with the input parameters "term" and "value". However, no output is defined for the operation.

Request-Response Operation

A request-response operation example:

In the example above, the portType "glossaryTerms" defines a request-response operation called "getTerm".

The "getTerm" operation requires an input message called "getTermRequest" with a parameter called "term", and will return an output message called "getTermResponse" with a parameter called "value".