What is Web Services?
  I came across this term for a while, i could not clearify myself what are web services and what it is use for? During my project i came accross some place where we use web services. I would like to share some information about how to use it and why it is use for.
   Web services are a collection of business logic which are developed so that a third party can use it without giving access to entire database or entire business logic.

  For example suppose say a company name XYZ has three other financial client A,B,C... so the company name XYZ has a software whose business logics are used by all of these client...... These client might require certain kind of business requirment to view data from the database. In this case the company name XYZ can't give full access to all the data, since some of the data belongs to other client.In this scenario the company name XYZ will create a web service where they will write certain function (business logic) and will give that access to company name A so that, a particualar company name A can get his requirment.So for a while it is like creating plugin for a company name A to get his data only. SOAP plays a role to communicate between these two company that is XYZ AND A. it is nothing but a protocal use to connect between these two company.

Hope it will help someone to know what is web services. Please correct me if i am wrong.

http://download-uk.oracle.com/docs/html/B25947_01/web_services001.htm