Is it possible to use WSDL with a REST webservice?

Question

I am new to the area of web-services. Is it possible to use WSDL with REST bindings? Or should I use WADL?

Solution

It's possible to use a WSDL with REST bindings, but it's really not necessary. The simplistic nature of REST make writing code to use that service very easy. Using a WSDL just adds extra complexity that is just not necessary.

If you're still interested, you can find more information here: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/webservices/library/ws-restwsdl/

Also, this question may help you: WSDL vs REST Pros and Cons

Comments

[John Saunders]

@jmort: in what way can one use WSDL with REST bindings? It doesn't seem to make sense, and I'm considering a downvote, but thought you might know something I don't.

[jro]

@john: read the IBM article, it details how to employ WSDL 2.0 specs against REST bindings.

[John Saunders]

@jro: WSDL 2.0, perhaps, but which consumer of a REST service will know to use a WSDL?

[jro]

@john: Agreed -- REST makes WSDL kind of pointless. Nonetheless, it's still feasible.

[John Saunders]

@jro: that's not what I said. I said that a consumer of a REST service will likely not understand WSDL at all.

[jro]

@john: seriously, it's in the IBM article. Likelihood, believability, take whatever angle you like. I was just pointing out what jmort provided.

[John Saunders]

@jro: based on the question and "I'm new to the area of web services", I felt that the OP is not asking for what might work, under some circumstances, but rather what works in general. In general, REST does not use WSDL.

[fredlegrain]

Well, generating a whole client library for the REST service would be great and feasible if a WDSL (or WADL?) is available. That's a good point for publishing service description.