Maven is a project building tool.Maven is a Open source project building tool.
It is a Apache product and available in its website.

Pre-Requisites to install Maven:
As  maven is Java tool , latest JDK should be installed before running or installing Maven in your local system.

History of Maven:
The previous version of Maven is ANT technology.

Drawback of ANT: If any dependency is missing for any project ANT doesnot show before the execution , it shows during the runtime only.
The issue is main advantage of Maven technology, during installation & before execution time it shows the missing artifacts or jar's etc.
Maven has its own repository ".m2" , during the installation of Maven it will create the repository in the "Documents and Setttings" folder by defalut., later you can change the location of ".m2" repository.
.m2:
 It stores all the additional and exteernal jar files in its repository.Everytime on starting the Eclipse IDE. it automatically updates to the latest version of jar's, software using etc.

Installation of Maven:

1. Go to Apache Maven Website(http://maven.apache.org/download.html) and Download  the latest version of Maven Technology according to the steps provided in the website that  supports your local system i.e; according to your operating system windows, linux etc.
2. After installaing the extract the Zip folder.
3. Check for the availability of executable jar file.
4. Gototcommand prompt and point your folder structure where you installed the Maven. and type:
5. java -jar   "apache version you installed" .jar

After that, type the following in a terminal or in a command prompt:

mvn --version
It should print out your installed version of Maven, for example:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Apache Maven 3.0.3 (r1075438; 2011-02-28 18:31:09+0100)
Maven home: D:\apache-maven-3.0.3\bin\..
Java version: 1.6.0_25, vendor: Sun Microsystems Inc.
Java home: E:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_25\jre
Default locale: nl_NL, platform encoding: Cp1252
OS name: "windows 7", version: "6.1", arch: "amd64", family: "windows"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

find more at : http://www.softwaretestingbuzz.com/2011/09/builiding-java-projects-...