SOAP, or Simple Object Access Protocol, is a protocol used for exchanging structured information in web services. It relies on XML to encode its messages, allowing different systems to communicate over the internet, regardless of their underlying platforms or programming languages. SOAP is often used in enterprise environments for its robustness and support for complex operations. One of the key features of SOAP is its ability to work with various transport protocols, such as HTTP and SMTP. This flexibility makes it suitable for a wide range of applications, from simple data exchanges to complex transactions involving multiple services. Its strict standards ensure reliability and security in communication.