Implementing WSDL in Ajax

Ajax based applications are highly intricate that its functions should be reused as much as possible to ease the developer’s job in building other applications. Debugging them as raw functions especially the web enabled services could be a little bit challenging but could be done with the help of WSDL or Web Services Description Language.

This tool is XML based so it could easily integrate itself to Ajax based applications especially when the data is transmitted with the use of XML.

Function Specific

WSDL focuses only on specific functions on an Ajax application. The data will never be encoded by WSDL not only for security purposes but also for practical reasons. The developer just wants to have the specific functions of the Ajax applications.

The functions come with data, it will influence the parameters so instead of raw function, and the developer will have a sample of the function instead. WSDL will also identify which ports will the data be transmitted. This will give the developers a good idea how the application is structured and how data is transmitted for more efficiency.

When WSDL has completed identifying the functions and data transmission, WSDL will return to the developer in XML format. This is somehow the “architectural plan” of the whole application including the functions, data transmission and even presents some of the possible integration with other data transmission tools.

If the developer has been working with WSDL for sometime, WSDL could be used to replicate some functions in an Ajax application fast with the use of the XML-based report.

Common Tags in WSDL

Developers should be familiar with different tags of WSDL to efficiently use the application. Although there are hundred of XML tags that could be used in WSDL, here are common tags that could be found in WSDL:

1. <wsdl:definitions/> - This is not necessarily a tag in WSDL but comes as a general identifier for the application. This function could be used in Ajax if XML is actually used in the Ajax based application. If XML not used, the tag presents the corresponding namespaces that could be used in rebuilding the application.

2. <wsdl:message/> - There are two elements that comes with this tag, add()in and add()out. The () refers to specific XML based data transfer tools such as SOAP or HTTP GET/POST. These commands contain the messages the developer needs to understand the application fast.

3. <wsdl:port> - This tag refers to the destination of the messages. It is supposed to help the developer understand the function more but it could also be used to properly configure the application. The challenging part is on how to effectively apply the port to without fully emulating the previous application.

4. <wsdl:binding> - This tag gives the developer an idea how data is actually transferred. Binding refers to the data transmission protocols used such as SOAP or HTTP GET/POST. This will provide the developer an idea whether or not to use namespaces if an XML is actually used in building an application.

By using WSDL, developers could increase the speed of development of the application. WSDL gives the developer full understanding of the functions and data transmission protocols of the Ajax based application.