What does a limited war entail compared to a general war?

A limited war is characterized by conventional armed conflict conducted at reduced levels, meaning that the scale and scope of military operations are constrained compared to a general war. In limited war, military objectives are usually specific and aimed at achieving particular political goals rather than total victory over an adversary. It often involves carefully defined geographic boundaries and may not require full mobilization of a nation's resources, which is a feature of general war.

In limited warfare, the intent is generally to avoid escalation to a broader conflict that might involve wider military engagements or the use of weapons of mass destruction. Thus, it focuses on achieving specific outcomes without unleashing the full military and economic might of a nation.

The notion of localized engagement only may seem appealing, but limited wars can occur across multiple fronts, though they do not encompass the entirety of a nation’s resources or military capabilities. The involvement of nuclear weapons is not typically a characteristic of limited warfare, as the use of such weapons implies a much higher stakes confrontation synonymous with a general war scenario. Complete mobilization of all resources is indeed a hallmark of general war, where every aspect of a nation's capabilities is utilized in the conflict. In summary, the correct definition of limited warfare lies in its nature as a conventional armed conflict at reduced levels