Two application programming interfaces (APIs) are provided using Spatial OpenLS services: a web services API and a PL/SQL API..

The web services API uses the same SOAP envelope as Web feature services (described in Web Feature Service (WFS) Support). You enable authentication and authorization using WSS and proxy authentication and user management.

The PL/SQL API is a convenient alternative to web services. Authentication and authorization are enabled through the database connection that you use to call a PL/SQL subprogram to submit an OpenLS request and return the result. The PL/SQL API is implemented in the SDO_OLS package, which is documented in SDO_OLS Package (OpenLS) .