(1) Any work performed by an organization can be called a service. Contrast with "product."
(2) Functionality delivered by a cloud computing provider. See
XaaS and
cloud computing.
(3) Functionality derived by running software. For example, network services may refer to programs that analyze data or provide the conversion of data transmitting in a network. Database services store and retrieve data in a database. Web services add functionality to websites (see
Web services).
(4) A facility on the Internet such as Web, email and newsgroups.
(5) A cable TV provider may offer various "services," such as TV, Internet and telephone.
(6) Software that runs in the background (as in the following example).
Services in Windows
Although there are only five applications in this computer that are apparent to the user, there are more than 100 services running in the background. Most of these are started automatically at login.