Welcome to Apache Axis2/Java

Based on the Axis2 architecture, there are two implementations of the Apache Axis2 Web services engine - Apache Axis2/Java and Apache Axis2/C

While you will find all the information on Apache Axis2/Java here, you can visit the Apache Axis2/C Web site for Axis2/C implementation information.

13rd August 2007 - Apache Axis2/Java Version 1.3 Released!

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Apache Axis2 is the core engine for Web services. It is a complete re-design and re-write of the widely used Apache Axis SOAP stack, built on the lessons learnt from Apache Axis.

Apache Axis Project in a Nutshell:

Apache Axis is an implementation of the SOAP ("Simple Object Access Protocol") submission to W3C.

Extract from the draft W3C specification:

"SOAP is a lightweight protocol for exchanging structured information in a decentralized, distributed environment. It is an XML based protocol that consists of three parts: an envelope that defines a framework for describing what is in a message and how to process it, a set of encoding rules for expressing instances of application-defined datatypes, and a convention for representing remote procedure calls and responses."

This project is a follow-on to the Apache SOAP project.

Please see the Axis Reference Library for a list of technical resources that should prove useful on this project.

Why Apache Axis2:

A new architecture for Axis2 was introduced during the August 2004 Summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The new architecture on which Axis2 is based on is more flexible, efficient and configurable in comparison to Axis1.x architecture. Some well established concepts from Axis 1.x, like handlers etc., have been preserved in the new architecture.

Apache Axis2 not only supports SOAP 1.1 and SOAP 1.2, but it also has integrated support for the widely popular REST style of Web services. The same business logic implementation can offer both a WS-* style interface as well as a REST/POX style interface simultaneously.

Apache Axis2 is more efficient, more modular and more XML-oriented than the older version. It is carefully designed to support the easy addition of plug-in "modules" that extend their functionality for features such as security and reliability. The Modules currently available or under development include:

Apache Axis2 is built on Apache AXIOM, a new high performant, pull-based XML object model.

Axis2 comes with many new features, enhancements and industry specification implementations. The key features offered are as follows:

We hope you enjoy using Axis2. Please note that this is an open-source effort. If you feel the code could use new features or fixes, or the documentation can be improved, please get involved and lend us a hand! The Axis developer community welcomes your participation.

Let us know what you think! Send your feedback on Axis2 to "[email protected]". Make sure to prefix the subject of the mail with [Axis2].

Features of Axis2 Latest Version

Apache Axis2 Version 1.3 comes with performance improvements and a number bug fixes over the 1.2 release. Check out the complete list of features below.

Programming Model

Supported Specifications

Transports

Supported Data Bindings

Tools Included in This Release

[Download Tool Plug-ins]

  1. Axis2 Web Application (Web App)
  2. WSDL2WS- eclipse plug-in/ Command line version/IntelliJ IDEA plug-in/Maven2 WSDL2Code Plug-in
  3. Service Archive Wizard- eclipse plug-in/ IntelliJ IDEA plug-in/ Maven2 AAR Plug-in
  4. Java2WSDL- Maven2 Java2WSDL Plug-in

Extension Modules

(Apache Axis2 comes built in with a module that supports WS-Addressing.)

Major Changes Since 1.2

Known Issues and Limitations in 1.3 Release:

Archived News

For information on previous Axis2 releases running up to the current release see the 'Axis2 Archived News' page.

For other news items from Apache Software Foundation see: