Web Services definition

Service Oriented Architecture SOA - Web Services definition

The term "Web Services" can be confusing. It is, unfortunately, often used in many different ways. Compounding this confusion is term "services" that has a different meaning than the term "Web Services." On this site, the term Web Services refers to the technologies that allow for making connections. Services are what you connect together using Web Services. A service is the endpoint of a connection. Also, a service has some type of underlying computer system that supports the connection offered. The combination of services - internal and external to an organization - make up a service-oriented architecture.

Source: http://www.service-architecture.com/web-services/articles/web_services_definition.html