Which of the following terms refers to software components that exchange information using standard Web communications?

The term that refers to software components that exchange information using standard Web communications is known as web services. Web services allow different applications from various sources to communicate with each other over the internet, using standard protocols such as HTTP and XML. They provide a mechanism for exchanging data between heterogeneous systems while promoting interoperability.

In contrast, EAI software, which stands for Enterprise Application Integration, focuses on integrating various applications within an organization and may involve more complex, proprietary mechanisms beyond standard web communications. SOA, or Service-Oriented Architecture, is an architectural style that supports the development of services that can be used across different applications but does not specifically address the web communication aspect. SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) is a protocol used for exchanging structured information in web services, but it is one element of the broader concept of web services itself. Thus, web services encompass the entire framework of software components utilizing web standards for information exchange.