Most of the places on the internet say it stands for WEB INFormation.
I rather doubt it. The folder contains executables. Information is not a suitable name for it.
+6
A:
As far as I know "INF" stands for Information like you said. It was probably named WEB-INF to be similar to the META-INF directory in .jar files. Sometimes the meaning of a directory changes over time, to the point it no longer makes sense. For example, bin directories in Unix/Linix often contain non-binary "executable" files, such as scripts.
Andy White
2009-03-28 16:02:22
+3
A:
I believe it's really named WEB-INF to mirror the META-INF directory in a jar file, which contains meta information. I do see what you mean about it being as much about executables as "information" but the main point is that it doesn't contain the documents of the application.
Jon Skeet
2009-03-28 16:02:57
@jon skeet : change the tags if you wish
euphoria83
2009-03-28 16:09:52
Looks like it's been done - will edit the answer now so it still makes sense :)
Jon Skeet
2009-03-28 16:20:01
(Is there now any point in having this answer as well as Andy White's? I'm tempted to delete.)
Jon Skeet
2009-03-28 16:20:39
+1
A:
I think, the only logical definition is WEB-INF is mirror of META-INF. Naming is really important for beginners and if it is confusing then the subject is getting harder to understand.
Özmen Adıbelli
2009-10-21 13:18:42