What does the body of a SOAP message contain?

The body of a SOAP message is primarily designed to hold the actual data being exchanged between systems, which includes both the request and response information. In the context of a web service interaction, when a client sends a request to the server, the body of the SOAP message contains the relevant data required for the operation. Similarly, when the server sends a response back to the client, the body includes the data that the client needs, such as the results of a query or an operation completion confirmation.

More specifically, in a typical SOAP conversation, the body may contain structured XML data that represents the parameters of the request or the results of a request. This data format ensures that complex data can be transmitted in a standardized way, facilitating interoperability between different platforms and technologies.

In contrast, other options refer to different aspects of the SOAP framework. Error messages might be included in a fault element rather than the body directly, service status information typically exists outside of the main data payload, and security tokens pertain to authentication and authorization details that might be handled in the header section of the SOAP message, not the body. This understanding clarifies the role of the body in structuring effective communication between web services.