Electrical code covering exterior outlet requirement?
Common confusion.  In code language, "Outlet" and "receptacle" are two very different things. 

A receptacle is a socket or the usual pair of sockets on a single yoke. 

An outlet is any delivery point of electrical power - it includes receptacles but also includes lights, water heaters, doorbell transformers, including hardwired loads.  It is an outlet from the wiring system to an appliance or socket.