The SOAP with Attachments API for JavaTM
(SAAJ) 1.4 provides the API for creating and sending SOAP messages by
means of the javax.xml.soap package. It is used for the SOAP
messaging that goes on behind the scenes in JAX-WS, JAX-RPC, and JAXR
implementations. SOAP Handlers in JAX-WS use SAAJ APIs to access the
SOAP Message. Developers can also use it to write SOAP messaging
applications directly instead of using JAX-WS/JAX-RPC.
The SAAJ API allows a client to send messages directly to the
ultimate recipient using a SOAPConnection object, which
provides a point-to-point connection to the intended recipient.
Response messages
are received synchronously using a request-response
model.
SOAPConnection (and its related classes) is a pure library
implementation that lets you send SOAP messages directly to a remote
party. A standalone client, that is, one that does not run in a
container such as a servlet, must include client-side libraries in its CLASSPATH.
This model is simple to get started but has limited possibilities for
reliability and message delivery guarantees. For instance, the
point-to-point message exchange model relies largely on the reliability
of the underlying transport for delivering a message.
Licensing and Governance
SAAJ RI is licensed under a dual license - CDDL 1.1 and GPL 2.0 with Class-path Exception. That means you can choose which one of the two suits your needs better and use it under those terms.
We use GlassFish Governance Policy, which means we can only accept contributions under the terms of OCA.
Note
The SAAJ specification is developed through the Java Community Process following the process described at jcp.org. This process involves an Expert Group with a lead that is responsible for delivering the specification, a reference implementation (RI) and a test compatibility kit (TCK). The primary goal of an RI is to support the development of the specification and to validate it. Specific RIs can have additional goals; the SAAJ RI is a production-quality implementation that is used directly in a number of products by Oracle and other vendors. To emphasize the quality of the implementation we call it a Standard Implementation.
The SAAJ expert group has wide industry participation with Oracle as the EG lead. The initial API was part of JAXM 1.0 in JSR-67 and was released in December 2001; the specification was later separated from JAXM in a maintenance release in June 2002.