What are SOAP web services commonly used for?

SOAP web services are commonly used for enterprise applications that require a structured and formalized approach to data exchange. They rely on XML as their message format and are designed to support operations that may need to maintain state across multiple interactions, which is a key requirement in many enterprise environments. This allows businesses to create robust integrations that ensure reliable message delivery, security features, and transaction management, which are critical for enterprise applications.

The formal exchange format provided by SOAP, including standard protocols for communication, ensures interoperability between different systems, which is usually vital for businesses that rely on complex architecture and need to maintain regulatory compliance. While other options touch on different functionalities, they do not align as closely with the primary use cases of SOAP web services geared towards enterprise-level requirements.