Web Application Archive — Java web application archive for servlet containers.
Quick facts
What is .war
A .war file is a Web Application Archive — Java web application archive for servlet containers.
In the mime-db registry it maps to application/java-archive, and it is marked as non-compressible. When serving .war over HTTP, set the Content-Type header as shown in Developer info below.
Related entities: it maps to application/java-archive — and is delivered over HTTP via the Content-Type header.
How to open .war files
Developer info
When served over HTTP, responses should set the following header:
Content-Type: application/java-archive
Common software that reads/writes .war:
Relation chain
Related extensions
Related MIME types
Common uses
How to edit .war files
How to create .war files
Frequently asked questions
Common options include Tomcat, 7-Zip. You can also open many of these files with built-in viewers or a browser.
Create a new file in any text editor or the app that owns the format and save it with the .war extension.
application/java-archive is the media type identifier used for .war files during network transfer (for example in the HTTP Content-Type header).
Sources & standards
Updated 2026-08-18
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