Enterprise WSDL vs Partner WSDL: Key Differences Explained

Posted by Vinay Vernekar 14th January 2026

Overview

Salesforce exposes two primary WSDL flavors for SOAP integrations: Enterprise WSDL and Partner WSDL. Both allow external systems to call Salesforce SOAP APIs, but they differ in schema rigidity, use cases, and how they represent Salesforce metadata. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right WSDL for reliable integrations.

Key Differences

1. Schema Type

The Enterprise WSDL is strongly typed — it contains concrete definitions for all custom objects and fields in the specific Salesforce org where it’s generated. By contrast, the Partner WSDL is loosely typed (generic), using an sObject type that carries the actual object type at runtime.

2. Portability

Enterprise WSDL is not portable between orgs because it embeds org-specific metadata. If object or field definitions change, you must regenerate the Enterprise WSDL. Partner WSDL is portable — it works across different orgs without regeneration because it uses generic sObject representations.

3. Use Cases

  • Enterprise WSDL: Best for internal integrations where the consuming client knows the org schema and desires compile-time type safety (e.g., .NET or Java clients that generate strongly-typed classes).
  • Partner WSDL: Ideal for multi-tenant or dynamic integrations (ETL tools, middleware) where the client must handle different org schemas at runtime.

Practical Example

Below is a simplified illustration showing how record representation differs.

Enterprise WSDL (strongly-typed):

<Account>
<Name>Acme Corporation</Name>
<NumberOfEmployees>500</NumberOfEmployees>
</Account>

Partner WSDL (loosely-typed sObject):

<sObjects xsi:type="sf:Account">
<sf:Name>Acme Corporation</sf:Name>
<sf:NumberOfEmployees>500</sf:NumberOfEmployees>
</sObjects>

Advantages and Limitations

Enterprise WSDL

  • Pros: Compile-time validation, easier to work with in strongly-typed languages, clearer code completion and IDE support.
  • Cons: Tied to org schema — must regenerate after metadata changes; not suitable for integrations across many orgs.

Partner WSDL

  • Pros: Flexible and portable across orgs; no need to regenerate when schema changes (client handles fields dynamically).
  • Cons: Less compile-time safety; requires runtime parsing and mapping; code can be more error-prone if not handled carefully.

Which One Should You Use?

Choose Enterprise WSDL when:

  • You control the Salesforce org and integration environment.
  • You want strong typing and better IDE support.

Choose Partner WSDL when:

  • You build integrations that must work across multiple Salesforce orgs.
  • You need a dynamic integration layer (middleware, ETL) that discovers fields at runtime.

Tip: Alternative – REST & Bulk APIs

For many modern integrations, Salesforce REST or Bulk APIs offer simpler and more flexible options (JSON payloads, OAuth authentication). However, if your environment requires SOAP or relies on legacy systems, choose the WSDL that matches your typing and portability needs.

Summary

Enterprise WSDL = strongly-typed, org-specific, compile-time safety. Partner WSDL = loosely-typed, portable, runtime flexibility. Selecting the right WSDL depends on your integration pattern, the number of target orgs, and whether you prefer compile-time safety or runtime adaptability.