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> ## Web Applications

> Web components and static Web content files such as images are called Web resources. A Web application is the smallest deployable and usable unit of Web resources.

> Web applications are typically packaged and deployed as Web archive (WAR) files. The format of a WAR file is identical to that of a JAR file. However, the contents and use of WAR files differ from JAR files, so WAR file names use a `.war` extension.

> In addition to Web components and Web resources, a Web application can contain other files including:

> - Server-side utility classes (database beans, shopping carts, and so on). Often these classes conform to the JavaBeans component architecture.
> - Client-side classes (applets and utility classes)

> The top-level directory of a Web application is the document root of the application. The document root is where JSP pages, client-side classes and archives, and static Web resources are stored.

> The document root contains a subdirectory called /`WEB-INF/`, which contains the following files and directories:

> - `web.xml`--The Web application deployment descriptor
> - Tag library descriptor files (see Tag Library Descriptors)
> - `classes`--A directory that contains server-side classes: servlets, utility classes, and JavaBeans components
> - `lib`--A directory that contains JAR archives of libraries called by server-side classes

> You can also create application-specific subdirectories (that is, package directories) in either the document root or the `/WEB-INF/classes/` directory.

> The WAR structure just described is portable; you can install it into any container that conforms to the Java Servlet Specification.

> ### Packaging a Web Application

> You package Web application into a WAR by executing the `jar` command in a directory laid out in the format of a Web module or by using the `Ant` `war` task. This tutorial uses the latter approach. To build and package the `hello1` application into a WAR named `hello1.war`:

> 1. In a terminal window, go to `<``INSTALL``>/jwstutorial12/examples/web/hello1/`.
> 2. Run `ant` build. This target will spawn any necessary compilations and copy files to the `<``INSTALL``>/jwstutorial12/examples/web/hello1/build/` directory.
> 3. Run `ant` `package`. This target creates a WAR in the directory `<``INSTALL``>/jwstutorial12/examples/web/hello1/dist/`.

> A sample `hello1.war` is provided in `<``INSTALL``>/jwstutorial12/examples/web/provided-wars/`.

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