---
schema_version: "1"
id: bb72c4a5a64539fb2c992930a76d8e1bfaec3d3d44dd655fbf85ac80e6944487
title: Exposing Apex Methods as SOAP Web Services
collection: legacydeveloper
version: current
locale: en-us
portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/legacydeveloper/current/en-us/apexcode/apex_web_services.md
canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_web_services.htm
source_site: developer.salesforce.com
content_type: documentation
content_hash: 1189cf3693d08c41828704f64662675120ca5bd988b7b0b2ced5cb0705ad71c2
description: You can expose your Apex methods as SOAP web services so that external applications can access your code and your application.
---
# Exposing Apex Methods as SOAP Web Services

You can expose your Apex methods as SOAP web services so that external applications can access your code and your application.

To expose your Apex methods, use [Webservice Methods](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_web_services_methods.htm).

![Tip](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/images/icon_note_tip.png)

#### Tip

- Apex SOAP web services allow an external application to invoke Apex methods through SOAP Web services. [Apex callouts](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_callouts.htm) enable Apex to invoke external web or HTTP services.
- Apex REST API exposes your Apex classes and methods as REST web services. See [Exposing Apex Classes as REST Web Services](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_rest.htm "You can expose your Apex classes and methods so that external applications can access your code and your application through the REST architecture.").

- **[Webservice Methods](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_web_services_methods.htm)**
- **[Exposing Data with Webservice Methods](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_web_services_methods_exposing.htm)**
- **[Considerations for Using the webservice Keyword](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_web_services_methods_considerations.htm)**
- **[Overloading Web Service Methods](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_web_services_methods_overloading.htm)**

- [← Previous](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_async_overview.htm "Asynchronous Apex")
- [Next →](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/atlas.en-us.apexcode.meta/apexcode/apex_rest.htm "Exposing Apex Classes as REST Web Services")