SOAP nodes

A SOAP node is the processing logic which operates on a SOAP message.

A SOAP node can: A SOAP node can be:
SOAP sender
A SOAP node that transmits a SOAP message.
SOAP receiver
A SOAP node that accepts a SOAP message.
Initial SOAP sender
The SOAP sender that originates a SOAP message at the starting point of a SOAP message path.
SOAP intermediary
A SOAP intermediary is both a SOAP receiver and a SOAP sender and is targetable from within a SOAP message. It processes the SOAP header blocks targeted at it and acts to forward a SOAP message towards an ultimate SOAP receiver.
Ultimate SOAP receiver
The SOAP receiver that is a final destination of a SOAP message. It is responsible for processing the contents of the SOAP body and any SOAP header blocks targeted at it. In some circumstances, a SOAP message might not reach an ultimate SOAP receiver, for example because of a problem at a SOAP intermediary.