SOAP is a lightweight, XML based protocol.

This tutorial has taught you how to use Simple Object Access Protocol-SOAP.

1. Its primary advantages is the ability to tunnel through firewalls.

2. Simplicity -> The SOAP messages are in simple, human readable XML format.

3. Scalability -> The SOAP messages are scalable because it uses HTTP protocol for transport.

4. Language neutrality -> It can be developed using any language.

5. Interoperability and Platform Independence -> SOAP can be implemented in any language and can be executed in any platform.

1. SOAP is slower than CORBA or RMI or IIOP due to the lengthy XML format that it has to follow and the parsing of the envelop that is required.

2. SOAP depends on WSDL and does not have any standardized mechanism for dynamic discovery of the services.

SOAP may lose the ability to tunnel through firewalls if developers are not wise with its application. That means it may lose one of its primary advantages.