What is the difference between compile time scope and runtime scope in Maven?

What is the difference between compile time scope and runtime scope in Maven?

When dealing with Maven dependencies, understanding the difference between compile time scope and runtime scope is crucial.

Compile time scope: Dependencies with compile time scope are needed to compile the project code. These dependencies are available during the compilation phase but are not included in the final packaged artifact (e.g., JAR, WAR).

Runtime scope: Dependencies with runtime scope are required to run the application. These dependencies are not needed for compilation but are necessary during execution. The runtime scope dependencies are included in the final packaged artifact.

It's important to specify the correct scope for each dependency in the Maven project configuration to ensure that the project builds correctly and runs without any issues.

By understanding the distinction between compile time scope and runtime scope, developers can optimize the dependencies in their projects and maintain a clean and efficient build process.