Ant buildfile

Each buildfile contains one project and at least one (default) target. Targets contain task elements.

Basic components/tags:
1) project - attributes: name, default, and basedir

2) target - attributes: name, depends, if, unless, descriptiondefault, and basedir

3) tasks - can be built-in or user defined
Common tasks: init, sets properties, prepare, creates directories, build, builds the system, package, creates jar file, install, installs an application to Tomcat or other engine, deploy, deploy a WAR engine, reload, update previously installed application engine, redeploy

4) properties - to reference, enclose in "${" and "}"
Some Built-in Properties: basedir, ant.file, ant.version, ant.project.name, ant.java.version


Tags:
                     ...


Ref:
http://ant.apache.org/manual/using.html