A handler is a Java class that implements org.apache.axis.Handler. They are contained in a Handlers folder for each Web service. You can have multiple handlers for each Web service. A handler class can be deployed to the server in the following ways:
If deploying a service from the WST development tool, include the handler class file in the current Web services project. When the service is deployed to the server, the handler class is also deployed.
If the handler class is contained in a JAR file, manually copy the JAR to the java/classes subdirectory of your EAServer installation, and add the JAR file to the server’s classpath. This may be a more efficient method if the handler is to be used by more than one Web service.
You can define two types of handlers:
Request handlers – are invoked before the actual Web service method is invoked. For example, you may have a handler that implements customized authentication logic, depending on the request.
Response handlers – is invoked after the actual Web service method is invoked. For example, you may have a handler that sends the contents of a SOAP message after the method is invoked.
Handlers can not be created, edited, or moved using the WST development tool, only added and deleted.
