How does Maven handle dependency conflicts and what strategies can be used to resolve them?

How does Maven handle dependency conflicts and what strategies can be used to resolve them?

When multiple dependencies in a Maven project have conflicting versions, Maven uses a mechanism called "Dependency Mediation" to resolve the conflicts automatically. Dependency Mediation selects the version of a dependency to use based on a specific algorithm that considers factors such as proximity to the root of the dependency tree and the version declared in the nearest parent.

Despite Maven's ability to automatically resolve dependency conflicts, there are some scenarios where conflicts may arise. In such cases, developers can use the following strategies to resolve them:

1. Dependency Exclusion: Exclude a transitive dependency that is causing a conflict by configuring the exclusion in the project's POM file.
2. Dependency Management: Use the <dependencyManagement> section in the POM file to explicitly define the versions of dependencies to be used throughout the project, effectively controlling version conflicts.
3. Forcing a Version: Use the <dependency> section in the POM file to force a specific version of a dependency, overriding any possible conflicts.
4. Refactoring Dependencies: Opt to refactor the project to use compatible versions of conflicting dependencies or find alternative dependencies that do not conflict.

By employing these strategies, developers can effectively manage and resolve dependency conflicts in Maven projects, ensuring smooth and stable build processes.