Standards-based web service protocol used to integrate enterprise systems that require structured XML messaging.
Why I use it
How I use it
Although REST APIs have become the dominant approach for modern web integrations, many enterprise systems continue to rely on SOAP for secure, structured communication. SOAP's strict messaging standards and formal service definitions make it particularly common in healthcare, finance, and large enterprise environments.
I worked with SOAP during a Drupal integration project for Overlake Hospital in Bellevue, Washington, where the Workday API required SOAP-based communication. Building the integration involved working with PHP, XML, WSDL definitions, and authentication requirements to exchange information reliably between Drupal and Workday. While the implementation required considerably more effort than an equivalent REST integration, it provided valuable experience working with enterprise integration standards.
For clients, understanding both REST and SOAP means existing enterprise systems don't become roadblocks during modernization projects. The right solution is often determined by the systems already in place.