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What does the SOAPAction HTTP header field mean? And how to use it?

843833Mar 4 2010 — edited Mar 5 2010
After reading SOAP 1.1 specification, I still do not understand the use of SOAPAction HTTP header field. Is it the same to the Target field of HTTP header? In other words, the HTTP request will be sent to the destination which is specified as the value of SOAPAction field? If the URI which is the value of SOAPAction field is different to the Target field of HTTP header, in this scenario, which destination the HTTP request will be sent to?




Thanks a lot!

Comments

843833 Mar 4 2010
At http://www.fh-wedel.de/~si/seminare/ws00/Ausarbeitung/6.soap/soap07.htm one read:
The HTTP-Header

The SOAPAction field of the HTTP-Header identifies the purpose of the SOAP-HTTP request. The value of this field is a URI without special requirements
due to presence or format. A HTTP client which sends a SOAP request has to use this header field.

Examples:

SOAPAction: "http://www.aktien.de/transaktion#buy"
SOAPAction: "doit.exe"
SOAPAction: ""
SOAPAction:

The presence of the SOAPAction field of the HTTP header can be used by firewalls to filter SOAP requests.
The field value of an empty String means the purpose of the request is to be determined from HTTP request URI itself (examples line 3).
No field value at all (examples line 4) means there is no hint for the purpose of the message provided.
So, I think the connection you stated between SOAP action field and HTTP request destination (path?) does not exist. Or it is not on that technical base at least.
843833 Mar 5 2010
Your reply is very helpful for me. I am very grateful for your help.
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