The handler chain is organized in such a manner that the logical handler precedes the SOAP handler. The sequence of the logical handlers and SOAP handlers is in accordance with the sequence included in the handler chain settings.

The following figure shows an example of the organization of the handler chain:

Figure 36-3 Example of the organization of the handler chain

As shown in the figure, the handlers are executed in the following sequence in the JAX-WS engine:

In outbound messages:

L1 -> L2 -> L3 -> S1 -> S2 -> S3 -> S4 -> S5 -> S6

In inbound messages:

S6 -> S5 -> S4 -> S3 -> S2 -> S1 -> L3 -> L2 -> L1

For the outbound messages, the handlers are executed in the handler chain sequence from the first handler. For the inbound messages, the handlers are executed in the reverse handler chain sequence from the last handler.

However, if the handler throws an exception or if the handleMessage method or handleFault method returns false, the direction of the handler processing changes.

This section describes the processing in the handleMessage method, handleFault method, and close method respectively.

Organization of this section

36.5.1 Processing of the handleMessage method

36.5.2 Processing of the handleFault method

36.5.3 Processing of the close method