What is the difference between a JAR and a WAR file?

JAR and WAR are two different file formats used in Java Spring Boot for packaging and deploying applications.

The main difference between the two is their purpose and the way they function.

A JAR (Java ARchive) file is a package file format used to distribute Java class files, associated metadata, and resources. It is commonly used to distribute standalone Java applications or libraries.

In general, JAR files are preferable for deploying Spring Boot applications because they are lightweight and can be run as standalone applications without requiring an application server. However, if you want multiple applications running under the same application server, you should choose WAR.

A WAR (Web ARchive) file, on the other hand, is a specific type of JAR file used to package and distribute web applications. It contains the web application’s resources, such as servlets, JSPs, and HTML files, as well as a WEB-INF directory that contains additional metadata, such as the web.xml deployment descriptor.

In summary, the main difference between a JAR and a WAR file is their intended use: JAR files are used for packaging and distributing standalone Java applications or libraries, while WAR files are used for packaging and distributing web applications.

I hope this helps you understand the differences between JAR and WAR in deploy in Java Spring Boot!