This is the FAQ page for the Web Services and Related Technologies forum. Like all other page in this wiki, the page is editable by anyone, so don't hesitate to add useful stuff.
What is a Web Service?
In simple terms a Web Service is an application or business logic that is accessible using standard Internet protocols.
Can I access a web services from any application?
Yes, if your application supports HTTP-based request and response (which, thanks to a plentitude of HTTP client libraries like
Apache HttpClient, just about any application should be able to do).
What are the current free and commercial implementations available for Web Services?
Axis 2Metro, the JAX-WS Reference ImplementationJersey, the JAX-RS Reference ImplementationApache CXF (formerly called XFire)JBossWSSpring WS, which apparently ceased to be worked on in 2013A comparison of the major SOAP stacks can be found at http://wiki.apache.org/ws/StackComparison
Can I access a web service from within a browser?
You can use the JavaScript XmlHttpRequest object. You'll have to create and process the XML requests and responses yourself, though. This works in Internet Explorer, Safari and Mozilla-based browsers like FireFox. All major JavaScript frameworks have classes and methods built in that greatly simplify this, though, so that should be the first choice.
What are the differences between JAX-RPC, JAX-WS, JAX-RS, Apache Axis, SAAJ, Apache SOAP, JWSDP, Metro, Jersey and GlassFish?
JAX-RPC is a specification/API for Java developers to develop SOAP based interoperable web services. This API is now obsolete, and may be dropped from the next JEE version.JAX-WS is the successor to JAX-RPC. It requires Java 5.0, and is not backwards-compatible to JAX-RPC. This article describes the high-level differences to JAX-RPC.SAAJ is another specification/API for using SOAP envelopes with or without attachments. It operates on a lower level than JAX-RPC or JAX-WS, both of which will use SOAP envelopes based on SAAJ if needed.Apache Axis is an open source implementation of the Java WS APIs for sending and receiving SOAP messages. Axis 1 supports JAX-RPC and SAAJ, while Axis 2 supports SAAJ and JAX-WS. Apache SOAP was the first SOAP implementation. It is now obsolete, and has been superseded by Apache Axis.Sun JWSDP - Sun Java Webservices Developer Pack, is an implementation of JAX-RPC, SAAJ and various other XML Java technologies. It is now deprecated in favor of the Metro stack.GlassFish is the open source JEE reference implementation. As such, it contains implementations of JAX-RS and JAX-WS.Metro is the SOAP stack used in GlassFish. It supports SAAJ, JAX-WS, WS-Security and other standards.JAX-RS is the standard Java API for RESTful web services.Jersey is the reference implementation of the JAX-RS API, as defined in the JSR-311 standard for RESTful web services.
What is REST?
Compared to SOAP, REST is a lighter-weight and less feature-rich approach to building web services. As such, it does not support the infrastructure built on top of SOAP (like WSDL, UDDI and WS-Security).RESTful Web services: The basics by Alex RodriguezIntroduction by Roger L. CostelloBest Practices by Hao HeREST versus SOAP - the REST story by William BrogdenREST versus SOAP - the SOAP story by William BrogdenI finally get REST. Wow by Tim EwaldREST vs. WS-*: A Parable by Elliotte Rusty HaroldAn Introduction to Resource-Oriented Architectures by Leonard Richardson and Sam RubyBook: RESTful Web ServicesJAX-RS (JSR-311): The Java API for RESTful Web Services; available implementations include Jersey (the reference implementation), Restlet, RESTEasy, Apache Wink
Where can I find the relevant standards?
SpecificationUrls lists all major standardsSOAP introductionHow the SCDJWS exam objectives map to the standards - Post by Valentin CrettazUsing WSDL in SOAP applicationsArticle What's new in WDSL 2.0?
How do I get started building a web service? Show me some code!
Introduction to SOAP and Apache SOAP (Note: Apache SOAP is obsolete)Introduction using Axis1, another oneWeb Services Made Easy with JAX-WS 2.0Webservices in JDK 6Introducing JAX-WS 2.0 With the Java SE 6 Platform - part 1, part 2Many questions are answered in the Apache Axis WikiJAX-WS Web Service Tutorial specifically for JBoss
Some useful code snippets
How can I set HTTP headers like SOAPAction or Basic Authentication in my SOAP request? (link)With Axis, how can I access authentication information if I use HTTP Authentication? (link)With Axis, how can I find out which service and operation was invoked? (link)What is the simplest possible Java client for a web service? (link)How do I handle WS-Security UsernameTokens with WSS4J? (link)
What other sources of information are available particularly for Java Web Services?
JAX-WS articles, FAQ, Wiki and more - https://jax-ws.java.net/How to run JAX-WS on TomcatJSR-181 - Web Services Metadata for JAX-WS - articleJAX-RS with Jersey: An IntroductionDeveloping Web Services using EJB 3.0JAX-WS and SAAJ are Java APIs that implement SOAP; introduction to SAAJJEE Web Services Tutorial - JEE 5, JEE 6, JEE 7Web Services for J2MEWebServicesReadingRoom of the Apache WS Project
Which other software packages help implement Java Web Services?
The Apache Web Services Project has a number of helpful libraries
WSS4J implements WS-Security
jUDDI and UDDI4j implement the client and server sides of UDDI, respectively. Scout is an open source JAXR implementation.
BPEL
SOAPUI is an excellent tool for testing web services. It allows to observe SOAP (and REST) traffic in transit, and can also act as a client. It supports WS-Security.
More articles on specific topics
What are WSDL styles and which one should I use: article on IBM DeveloperWorksUsing SOAP headers with Axis clientTransferring files over a web serviceSending SOAP attachments using SAAJWeb Services, Opaque Data, and the Attachments Problem - Explore the many possibilities for dealing with opaque data in Web services (including SwA, WS-Attachments and DIME, PASwA, MTOM), and see the problem modeled with a classic childhood toy.Understanding Web service interoperabilityAsynchronous operations and Web services: using JAX-WS, Introduction Part 1 , Part 2, Part 3Introduction to HTTP and WS-Security authentication in Web Services: article in JavaRanch Journal, update for Axis 2 Introduction to WS-Security encryption: article in JavaRanch JournalPatterns and Strategies for Building Document-Based Web Services: article on the Sun Developer NetworkObstacles to the adoption and successful realization of Service-Oriented Architecture: SOA AntipatternsUsing explicit and implicit SOAP headers with WSDLA little bit about Message Context in JAX-WS
Books
Check the
JavaRanch Bunkhouse
Web Services And SOAP category.
The book title is linked to the publisher where sample content may reside. The ISBN links to Amazon US which tends to list reviews.
SOA Using Java Web Services (2007)
ISBN 0130449687 Web page Bunkhouse Review
Examines web service technology in a Java EE 5 context as implemented on the Glassfish application server. Covers JAX-WS 2.0 and JAXB 2.0. Mark D. Hansens posts during the book promotion. Why is Java Web Services so Hard?
RESTful Web Services (2007)
ISBN 0596529260
Explains the principles of REpresentational STate transfer and Resource Oriented Architecture (ROA). Specifies design procedures for resource URIs and resource (state) representations (XML being only one option). Many examples use Ruby but one example does use the Restlet framework. Also looks at AJAX applications as REST clients. Leonard Richardsons and Sam Rubys posts during the book promotion.
J2EE Web Services (2004)
ISBN 0321146182 Bunkhouse Review Author's Blog
Examines web service technology in a J2EE 1.4 context. Covers XML, XML Schema, SOAP 1.1, WSDL 1.1, WS-I Basic Profile 1.0a, UDDI 2.0 as general web service standards and the Java APIs using them: (the now dated) JAX-RPC (incl. EJB endpoints), JAXR (level 0), JAXP, SAAJ, SwA; deployment descriptors are also covered.
Designing Web Services with the J2EE 1.4 Platform (2004)
ISBN 0321205219 On-line Version PDF Version
A more design/architecture oriented examination of web service technologies in a J2EE 1.4 context.
Service-Oriented Architecture: Concepts, Technology, and Design (2005)
ISBN 0131858580 Web page
SOA with SOAP web services explained. Just don't expect to see any code as this is a platform independent discussion of SOA with SOAP web services.
Service-Oriented Architecture: A Field Guide to Integrating XML and Web Services (2004)
ISBN 0131428985 Web page
An examination of how XML technologies, SOAP, WSDL, UDDI, and various WS-* standards can be used to move towards a Service-Oriented Enterprise. No code as this is a platform independent exploration.
SOA Principles of Service Design (2007)
ISBN 0132344823 Web page
Service-Orientation isn't Object-Orientation. Discusses the service design principles needed to develop services that can operate successfully in a SOAP-based SOA.
SOA in Practice: The Art of Distributed System Design (2007)
ISBN 0596529554 Web page
Need an SOA instead of a JaBoWS (Just another Bunch of Web Services)? While not specifically written for web service based SOAs but more towards large distributed systems in general this book presents some of the benefits that you can realize by adopting service-orientation and SOA practices. More importantly it reveals that large distributed systems can turn some common sense best practices established for smaller or component-based systems on their heads (example: the perceived need for a common business object model across the entire system). Interview
Java Web Services in a Nutshell
Building Web Services with Java: Making Sense of XML, SOAP, WSDL, and UDDI
Developing Web Services with Apache Axis
Developing Java Web Services: Architecting and Developing Secure Web Services Using Java
Java Web Services Architecture
Martin Kalin
Java Web Services: Up and Running
WebServicesHowTo ScdjwsLinks CategoryFaq
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