What is the purpose of Maven's 'install' phase?

The purpose of Maven's 'install' phase is to place the built artifact (such as a JAR file) into the local repository of the developer's machine. This phase is essential because it allows other projects on the same machine to reference and use the artifact without needing to retrieve it from a remote repository. Essentially, by executing this phase, you ensure that the current project’s outputs are readily available for dependency management in other Maven projects, facilitating smoother integration and development processes.

The other actions performed by Maven, such as running unit tests, building the project, or deploying the application, occur at different phases in the Maven build lifecycle. Each phase has a distinct role, with 'install' specifically focused on making the artifact available for local usage. This foundational step is critical in environments where developers are working on multiple interdependent projects, ensuring a seamless workflow.