difference between exploded directory or WAR file

There are two ways to deploy an application on the production server: in an exploded directory, or in an archive. What is meant by, exploded directory. Can someone kindly explain.
[193 byte] By [get_that_donea] at [2007-10-3 6:32:44]
# 1
archive means in war or ear format
smita_smitaa at 2007-7-15 1:20:12 > top of Java-index,Desktop,Deploying...