The Java® Tutorial: A Short Course on the Basics, Fifth Edition

15. Packaging Programs in JAR Files

Chapter Contents

Using JAR Files: The Basics

Working with Manifest Files: The Basics

Signing and Verifying JAR Files

Using JAR-Related APIs

Questions: Packaging Programs in JAR Files

The Java Archive (JAR) file format enables you to bundle multiple files into a single archive file. Typically a JAR file contains the class files and auxiliary resources associated with applets and applications.

The JAR file format provides many benefits:

• Security. You can digitally sign the contents of a JAR file. Users who recognize your signature can then optionally grant your software security privileges it wouldn’t otherwise have.

• Decreased download time. If your applet is bundled in a JAR file, the applet’s class files ...