There are three file types we work with in Java applications. Two can be installed via the WebSphere deployment process. One is known as an EAR file, and the other is a WAR file. The third is a JAR file (often re-usable common code) which is contained in either the WAR or EAR format. The explanation of these file types is shown in the following table:
File Type |
Description |
---|---|
JAR file |
A JAR file (or Java ARchive) is used for organising many files into one. The actual internal physical layout is much like a ZIP file. A JAR is generally used to distribute Java classes and associated metadata. In J2EE applications, the JAR file often contains utility code, shared libraries, and EJBS. An EJB is a server-side model that encapsulates the business logic of an application and is one of several Java APIs in the Java Platform, Enterprise Edition with its own specification. You can visit http://java.sun.com/products/ejb/ for information on EJBs. |
EAR file |
An Enterprise Archive... |