What does vendor mean in web file structure?

Question

Every now and then I see vendor being used in a directory structure on web apps.

Like this:

<script src="js/vendor/modernizr-2.6.2.min.js"></script> 

What does this mean? Why do people use it?

More importantly, should I use it? I make web apps using php and javascript.

Solution 1

It's a common convention to put files coming from various third party sources (the "vendors") in a folder named that way.

You can use it as it makes it clearer what's "from the project" and what is a dependency you rely upon, but it is merely a convention, not an obligation.

Solution 2

/vendor usually refers to a directory that contains third party plugins.

Solution 3

Most if the time, there are 3rd party libs stored and commonly it's ignored in VCS.

Comments

[Ben Harvey]

I know @Steve was right first, but I'm marking this as the answer as it's concise.