What are JAX-WS Interceptors (also known as handlers)?

Question

What are JAX WS Interceptors? Where do I find info regarding the same!

Answer 1

JAX-WS interceptors (also called handlers) are used to weave in aspects of the request in a transparent way. Example of this are logging or requests/responses, adding security headers to the message, encryption, compression, etc. A single interceptor can manipulate either the logical payload (content) of the message or the protocol of the message, but cannot do both.

See here for the introductory documentation on them.

Answer 2

Handlers are basically similar to filters, but for inboud and output processing of SOAP messages. Here is a quick tutorial I found.