What is Web Services Description Language (WSDL)

WSDL is a document written in XML that describesfour critical peices of information:

1. Interface information for describing all publically available functions
2. Data-Type Information for all  message requests and responses.
3. Binding information about protocol used for transportation.
4. Address Information for locating appropriate service.


WSDL is a mechanism by which others know how to intercat with a particular service.
It gives the information about the place where service resides, what a service can do and how to invoke that particular web service.
WSDL is oftenly used in Combination with SOAP and XML to provide Web Service over Internet.
WSDL represents a cornerstone of web service architecture because it provides a common language for describing services and platform for automatically integrating all these services.


AN EXAMPLE OF WSDL looks like: