(1) (
Java 
ARchive)  A file format that contains multiple files and is used to distribute a complete Java application.  It contains all the resources required (classes, images, sounds, etc.) to download and run a Java program via a single HTTP request for one file.  JAR files use the ZIP format and are the basis for WAR files.  See 
WAR and 
EAR.
(2) A compression program for backup archiving from ARJ Software, Inc., Norwood, MA.  JAR is similar to ARJ, but files are not compatible.  See 
ARJ.