What is “archiving” ?

In the context of advanced Java programming, “archiving” typically refers to the process of creating a compressed or packaged file that contains multiple files and directories. This is often done for the purpose of distribution, deployment, or backup.

In Java, the term “archiving” can be associated with various technologies and tools, such as:

1. JAR (Java Archive): A JAR file is a common way to archive Java class files, resources, and metadata into a single file. It uses the ZIP file format and is widely used for packaging Java applications, libraries, and components.

   Example of creating a JAR file:

   bash

   jar cf MyArchive.jar MyClass.class MyResources/

2. WAR (Web Archive): WAR files are used for archiving and distributing web applications. They contain all the necessary components, such as servlets, JSP files, HTML pages, and other resources, needed for deploying a web application.

   Example of creating a WAR file:

   bash

   jar cf MyWebApp.war WEB-INF/ classes/ index.jsp

3. EAR (Enterprise Archive): EAR files are used for packaging Java EE (Enterprise Edition) applications. They can contain multiple modules, such as EJB (Enterprise JavaBeans) modules and web modules, providing a way to deploy and distribute complex enterprise applications.

   Example of creating an EAR file:

   bash

   jar cf MyEnterpriseApp.ear META-INF/ lib/ MyApp.jar MyWebApp.war


In summary, “archiving” in advanced Java involves creating compressed and packaged files (like JAR, WAR, or EAR) that bundle together various components of a Java application for distribution, deployment, or other purposes.