Zeep is a Python SOAP client library that provides a modern and user-friendly interface for working with SOAP web services. It offers automatic XML parsing, type conversion, and supports complex WSDL structures, making it easier to interact with SOAP APIs in Python applications.

Pros

• Easy to use with a simple and intuitive API
• Supports complex WSDL structures and XML schemas
• Automatic type conversion between Python and XML
• Extensible with custom data types and transport methods

Cons

• Performance can be slower compared to lower-level XML libraries
• Limited support for older SOAP versions and non-standard implementations
• Documentation could be more comprehensive for advanced use cases
• Debugging complex SOAP issues can be challenging

Code Examples

1. Creating a SOAP client and making a simple request:

from zeep import Client

client = Client('http://www.webservicex.net/ConvertSpeed.asmx?WSDL')
result = client.service.ConvertSpeed(
    speed=100,
    fromUnit='kilometersPerHour',
    toUnit='milesPerHour'
)
print(f"100 km/h is equal to {result} mph")

2. Using a custom transport with authentication:

from zeep import Client
from zeep.transports import Transport
from requests import Session

session = Session()
session.auth = ('username', 'password')
transport = Transport(session=session)

client = Client('http://example.com/service?WSDL', transport=transport)
result = client.service.SomeOperation(param1='value1', param2='value2')

3. Working with complex types:

from zeep import Client

client = Client('http://example.com/complex_service?WSDL')

# Create a complex type instance
address_type = client.get_type('ns0:AddressType')
address = address_type(
    street='123 Main St',
    city='Anytown',
    state='CA',
    zip='12345'
)

# Use the complex type in a service call
result = client.service.CreateCustomer(name='John Doe', address=address)

Getting Started

To get started with Zeep, follow these steps:

1. Install Zeep using pip:

   pip install zeep
   

2. Import the Client class and create a client instance:

   from zeep import Client
   client = Client('http://example.com/service?WSDL')
   

3. Call a service method:

   result = client.service.SomeMethod(param1='value1', param2='value2')
   print(result)
   

For more advanced usage and configuration options, refer to the official Zeep documentation.