Overview
ISO/IEC 40260:2011 - Information technology - W3C Web Services Addressing 1.0 - Metadata specifies how Web Services Addressing (WS-Addressing) metadata is expressed and published. Built on the transport‑neutral mechanisms that address Web services and messages, this standard defines how the abstract properties from ISO/IEC 40240 are described using WSDL, how WSDL metadata can be embedded in endpoint references (EPRs), and how WS‑Policy is used to declare a Web service’s support for WS‑Addressing.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 40260:2011, W3C Web Services Addressing 1.0, WS‑Addressing, WSDL metadata, endpoint references, WS‑Policy.
Key Topics
- Mapping abstract properties to WSDL
Describes the correspondence between the abstract WS‑Addressing properties (see ISO/IEC 40240) and concrete WSDL constructs so that addressing behavior is unambiguously represented in service descriptions.
- WSDL metadata in endpoint references (EPRs)
Specifies how to include WSDL metadata inside EPRs, enabling clients to discover service interfaces and addressing-related metadata directly from an endpoint reference.
- WS‑Policy integration
Explains how to use WS‑Policy assertions to indicate that a Web service supports WS‑Addressing and to describe addressing requirements or capabilities.
- Transport neutrality and interoperability
Emphasizes transport-agnostic addressing semantics to ensure consistent routing and message addressing across HTTP, JMS, SOAP over other transports, and mixed environments.
Applications
ISO/IEC 40260:2011 is practical for organizations and professionals implementing or integrating Web services where reliable addressing metadata and clear service capabilities are required:
- Service architects and API designers use it to document addressing behavior in WSDL so clients and intermediaries can route messages correctly.
- SOA integrators and middleware vendors implement EPR metadata handling and WS‑Policy assertions to enforce addressing requirements and enable automated discovery.
- Enterprise developers and system integrators rely on WSDL metadata in EPRs to simplify client configuration and to programmatically locate service descriptions.
- Governance and compliance teams adopt the standard to ensure consistent addressing semantics across services and to document support for WS‑Addressing in policy artifacts.
Benefits include improved interoperability, clearer service discovery, deterministic message routing, and standardized policy-based capability declarations.
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 40240 - Abstract properties for Web Services Addressing (referenced by this standard)
- W3C Web Services Addressing 1.0 - Core specification for addressing concepts and message addressing properties
- WS‑Policy - Policy framework used to indicate support and requirements for WS‑Addressing
- WSDL (Web Services Description Language) - Service description format used to express metadata and bindings
For implementers and architects focused on robust, transport-neutral addressing and metadata publication, ISO/IEC 40260:2011 clarifies how addressing concepts become actionable in WSDL, EPRs, and WS‑Policy.