WSDL and SOAP: how to create and mock a SOAP API online (no code)

WSDL and SOAP: how to create and mock a SOAP API online (no code) If you've ever had to integrate with a SOAP API, you know the pain. XML everywhere, cryptic WSDL files, and a local mock server that takes 45 minutes to set up before you can write a single line of code. In this guide I'll explain what WSDL and SOAP actually are, how they relate to each other, and how you can mock a SOAP API in seconds — without touching your terminal. What is SOAP? SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a protocol for exchanging structured information between services. Unlike REST, which uses plain JSON over HTTP, SOAP uses XML for every request and response, and follows a strict contract defined in a WSDL file. It was the dominant API standard in the 2000s and early 2010s. Today it's still widely used in: Banking and financial systems Government services Enterprise software (SAP, Oracle, legacy ERP systems) Healthcare (HL7 integrations) If you work in any of these industries, you will encounter SOAP.