SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a messaging protocol that allows programs running on different operating systems to communicate using HTTP and XML.
SOAP offers WS-Security for end-to-end security standards and uses WSDL to define services and ensure predictable integration.
SOAP includes built-in error handling, supports WS-ReliableMessaging, and can maintain state across operations, making it valuable for complex business processes.
Despite newer protocols like REST and GraphQL, SOAP remains important in enterprise environments where security, reliability, and formal contracts are essential.