The Croatian War of Independence is initially between Croatian police forces and the rebelling Serb minority proclaiming an autonomous Republic of Serb Krajina.Over time, the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) begins siding with rebel Serbs, openly preventing the Croatian security forces from quelling the rebellion.

The Croatian side aims to establish a sovereign Republic of Croatia, outside from the now defunct Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Croatia's rebelling Serbs, supported from Serbia, want to remain part of Yugoslavia, effectively seeking new boundaries in those parts of Croatia with a Serb majority or significant minority, by conquering as much of Croatia as possible.In Croatia the war is referred to as Domovinski rat (Homeland War), and due to its recent history, it is often contracted to just rat (war).

In Serbia, the phrase Rat u Hrvatskoj (War in Croatia) is the most common name.