EAR File – What is .ear file and how to open it?

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EAR File Extension

Java Enterprise Archive File – file format by Oracle

EAR (Java Enterprise Archive), developed by Oracle, is a file extension for a deployable archive in Java EE conforming application servers. It encapsulates a web application (WAR), Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB), JavaServer Pages (JSP), servlets, libraries, XML deployment descriptors, and other necessary components for enterprise-level Java applications.

Definition and Purpose

Java Enterprise Archive (EAR) files are standardized deployment units used in Java EE (Java Platform, Enterprise Edition) applications. They encapsulate multiple Java Archive (JAR) files, which contain the code, resources, and configuration files of the application, into a single deployable unit. EAR files facilitate the deployment and management of complex Java EE applications, ensuring that all necessary components are deployed together consistently.

Structure and Components

EAR files follow a specific structure defined by the Java EE specification. They typically consist of a manifest file (application.xml), which describes the application’s deployment and configuration settings, as well as a directory structure that organizes the contained JAR files. EAR files can include several types of JAR files, such as EJB (Enterprise JavaBeans) JARs, web application WARs (Web Application Archives), and shared library JARs. Additionally, EAR files may contain XML configuration files and other supporting resources necessary for the application’s execution.

Method 1: Using Java

EAR files can be opened using the Java Development Kit (JDK) provided by Oracle. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Install the JDK on your computer.
  2. Open a command prompt or terminal window.
  3. Navigate to the directory where the EAR file is located.
  4. Run the following command:


jar -xvf <ear_file_name>

This command will extract the contents of the EAR file to the current directory.

Method 2: Using a Third-Party Tool

There are also several third-party tools that can be used to open EAR files. These tools typically provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that makes it easy to view and extract the contents of EAR files. Some popular third-party tools include:

  • WinRAR
  • 7-Zip
  • PeaZip

Once you have installed a third-party tool, you can simply right-click on the EAR file and select the “Open” option to view its contents.

Enterprise Application Deployment

A Java Enterprise Archive (EAR) file is a type of Java archive used for packaging multiple Java EE modules, such as Java EE applications, libraries, and resources, into a single deployable unit. The EAR file format provides a standard way to package and deploy Java EE applications and components, making it easier to deploy and manage complex enterprise applications. EAR files are typically used in Java EE application servers, which provide a runtime environment for executing Java EE applications.

EAR File Structure

An EAR file consists of a manifest file (META-INF/MANIFEST.MF) that describes the contents of the archive, as well as a number of subdirectories that contain the Java EE modules and their associated resources. The mandatory subdirectories include:

  • META-INF: Contains the manifest file and other deployment descriptors.
  • ejb: Contains enterprise beans (EJB) modules.
  • war: Contains web application (WAR) modules.
  • jar: Contains libraries and other JAR files.

An EAR file may also contain optional subdirectories, such as lib (for libraries), ext (for extension modules), and docs (for documentation). The manifest file specifies the metadata for the EAR file, including the name, version, dependencies, and any other relevant information.

Other Extensions