The purpose of the Commons is to provide reusable, open source Java software.
The Commons Proper is dedicated to creating and maintaining reusable Java components.
Commons members champion projects in the Sandbox for promotion to the Commons Proper, and groups of developers work to enhance Sandbox projects until they meet the standards for promotion.
The Commons Dormant is a collection of components that have been declared inactive due to little recent development activity.
Goyal, Vikram (2003), Using the Jakarta Commons, Part I, retrieved August 13, 2006