News
WSDL Spec. Sent to W3C
- By Scott Bekker
- 03/15/2001
A key specification for
Microsoft Corp’s .NET initiative has been submitted for review to the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The Web Services Description Language (WSDL) provides a grammar for XML, enabling computer-to-computer transactions via the web.
A number of Microsoft partners have joined in co-submitting the spec to the W3C. Companies range from database vendor Oracle Corp. to ERP giant SAP AG to purveyors of development tools such as BEA Systems Corp. and Ariba Corp. to OEMs Compaq Computer Corp. and Hewlett Packard Co.
WSDL complements the Simple Object Acess Protocol (SOAP) by describing the nature of a transaction through XML. With a WSDL implementation, programs can understand what types of data are transferred and how to use the data.
Microsoft has aggressively pushed key .NET specifications to the W3C. It submitted SOAP for review in May, 2000, and is preparing UDDI for review.
The W3C is an industry consortium dedicated to creating standards and best practices for Web implementations. -- Christopher McConnell
About the Author
Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.