Java

Java Archive (JAR) Features

Documentation Contents
JAR (Java Archive) is a platform-independent file format that aggregates many files into one. Multiple Java applets and their requisite components (.class files, images and sounds) can be bundled in a JAR file and subsequently downloaded to a browser in a single HTTP transaction, greatly improving the download speed. The JAR format also supports compression, which reduces the file size, further improving the download time. In addition, the applet author can digitally sign individual entries in a JAR file to authenticate their origin. It is fully backward-compatible with existing applet code and is fully extensible, being written in Java.

This version of the Java platform extends the utility of the JAR format. Enhancements include added functionality for the command-line JAR tool for creating and updating signed JAR files. There are also new standard APIs for reading and writing JAR files. In addition, the Java Extensions Framework provides a mechanism for handling dependencies on extensions and other third-party libraries packaged as JAR files.

JAR Features JAR Files and the Extensions Framework Enhanced Jar Tool Reading and Writing JAR Files: API Specification Tutorial

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