Q: What is Axis? What is its relationship to Apache SOAP?
A: Axis is essentially Apache SOAP 3.0. It is a from-scratch rewrite, designed around a streaming model (using SAX internally rather than DOM). The intention is to create a more modular, more flexible, and higher-performing SOAP implementation (relative to Apache SOAP 2.0).
Q: Why call it "Axis"?
A: The name "Axis" was chosen because, when the project started, the XML Protocol working group had not chosen a name for its protocol. The intent was for Axis to support SOAP 1+, XML-RPC, and XMLP (whatever it wound up being called), so calling it "Apache SOAP 3.0" would have missed the mark. Recently, the XML Protocol working group decided to retain the SOAP name, so perhaps it would have been better to keep Axis as part of the Apache SOAP project. C'est la vie.
(According to the README, AXIS stands for "Apache eXtensible Interaction System", which could mean almost anything.)
Q: Can you give a comparison between Apache Axis and Apache SOAP
A: See /Compare
Q: Where can I get good tutorial on "Axis"?
A: Try /Articles