Advantage of a jar file

[Pavan Kumar Dittakavi]

Hi,

I want to know the advantage of using a jar file. I know that jar files helps in reducing the size and that it can be digitally signed. But, in our project, which they develop via eclipse, each plugin is built into a jar file. What/how does it help?

Thanks,
Pavan.

[Tim Moores]

If nothing else, it's much easier to distribute a single jar file than a hierarchy of loose class files.