What is a Web Service?

A Web Service a standardized format for supplying information. A Web Service supplies data in a standardized format either by performing calculations or by referencing a database. Your website can provide data to other websites by using Web Services. Or your website can use Web Services provide by other websites.

As an example a life insurance company could provide a Web Service that calculates the cost of life insurance. An internet user would visit your website and enter the relevant information such as age, gender, smoking habits then your website would ask another website the cost of life insurance and receive the cost information. Now that your website knows the cost of insurance, that cost can then be used to provide your customer a quote.

Any program can use a Web Service, a website, a desktop program or a PDA program.

As an example any program could display the weather forecast or the changes in stock prices by using Web Services provided by a website.