How to Convert WSDL to Java Classes: A Step-by-Step Guide

SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) services were widely used in enterprise applications for their reliability and standardized communication protocols. To interact with SOAP services, developers often need to generate Java classes (stubs) from a WSDL (Web Services Description Language) file. In this blog, we’ll dive into what WSDL and Java stubs are, why they are essential, and how to generate stubs using the wsimport tool.

What is WSDL?

WSDL stands for Web Services Description Language. It is an XML-based document that describes a SOAP web service, including:

1. Service Location: Where the service is hosted (e.g., a URL).
2. Operations: What actions the service provides.
3. Request and Response Structure: What data is required for each operation and what will be returned.
4. The binding protocols used (e.g., SOAP).

Think of WSDL as a contract between the service provider and the client. It defines how clients can…