(English) JAR files support a wide range of functionality, including electronic signing, version control, package sealing, and others. What gives a JAR file this versatility? The answer is the JAR file’s manifest.
The manifest is a special file that can contain information about the files packaged in a JAR file. By tailoring this « meta » information that the manifest contains, you enable the JAR file to serve a variety of purposes.
This post will explain the contents of the manifest file and show you how to work with it, with examples for the basic features: