Web services are becoming increasingly important in the modern digital world, with more and more businesses relying on them to facilitate communication between different parts of their system. But what exactly are web services and what roles do they play? In this article, we’ll explore the three key roles web services can play in an organization’s IT infrastructure.

A web service is a type of software application that allows two or more systems to communicate and share data and information over the internet. Web services are based on open standards, such as XML, SOAP, and WSDL. This means that any application or system can communicate with another application or system that also uses these standards, without needing to install any additional software.

Web services are used to facilitate the exchange of data between different applications and systems. This can be data such as customer records, product orders, or any other type of information that needs to be shared between two systems. Web services can also be used to provide access to web applications and services, such as web-based email, online shopping, or social media sites.

Web services can play three key roles in an organization’s IT infrastructure. These roles are:

• Data Exchange: Web services can be used to facilitate the exchange of data between different systems in a standardized format, such as XML or JSON.
• Application Integration: Web services can be used to enable the integration of different applications and systems, allowing them to communicate and interact.
• Service Access: Web services can be used to provide access to web applications and services, such as web-based email, online shopping, or social media sites.

Understanding the roles of web services is essential for any organization looking to leverage the power of web services.