Both JSP and Servlet are important concepts pertaining to using Java for building web-based applications. Basically, a Servlet is HTML in Java while a JSP is Java in HTML. Any typical web development interview can have several JSP and Servlet-based Java interview questions.
Although much of the purpose served by JSP and Servlet is the same, there are several important differences between the two. Before delving deeper into dissimilarities between the two Java concepts, let’s first build a good understanding of them.
1. Difference Between Servlet and JSP
1.1 Servlets
Java Servlets or simply Servlets are programs that run on some web or application server. They act as a middle layer between an inbound request from a web browser or an HTTP client and applications or databases present on the HTTP server. Servlets allow for:
- Collecting user input via web page forms
- Displaying records from a database or some other source
- Dynamically creating web pages
Since they are drafted in Java, Servlets are platform-independent. A Servlet has access to the complete functionality of Java class libraries. Servlets are able to interact with applets, databases, and software via sockets and RMI mechanisms.
1.2 JSP
JSP full form is Java Server Pages. It is a technology that enables developing web pages with support for dynamic content. JSP enables developers to insert Java code in HTML web pages by using special JSP tags that typically starts with <% and ends with %>.
The JavaScript or HTML code in JSP web pages runs on the client side, while JSP itself is identical to ASPX or PHP pages that run at the server side. Java Server Pages is a server-side technology that allows the creation of dynamic, platform-independent web-based applications.
A JSP component is a type of Java Servlet that fills the role of a user interface for a Java-based web application. JSPs combine HTML or XHTML code, embedded JSP actions and commands, and embedded JSP actions.
It is possible to use JSP tags for a multitude of purposes, ranging from retrieving data from a database to accessing JavaBeans components and sharing information between requests.
JSP is a fundamental part of Java Enterprise Edition. Hence, it is a comprehensive platform for building enterprise-level applications.
2. Servlet vs. JSP: Important Differences that You Must Know
- Custom Tags
Servlets offer no provision for building custom tags that can directly call Java beans. The JSP programming offers an advantage in this scenario as developers can build custom tags in JSP that can directly call Java beans.
- Definition
Technically, a JSP is a text document that contains static and dynamic data. While the static data is represented in a text-based format – such as HTML, XML, and SVG – the JSP elements represent the dynamic data.
A servlet is a Java class that extends the abilities of servers hosting applications following a request-response model.
Servlets are typically used for extending the applications hosted by web servers. Nonetheless, they can respond to various types of requests too. Specifically for such applications, HTTP-specific servlet classes are specified by the Java Servlet technology.
- Ease of Coding
Although both JSP and Servlets are capable of generating dynamic content, the former is a web page scripting language and the latter are Java programs. Coding in JSP is much easier than coding Java Servlets. Moreover, JSP is compiled into Java Servlets.
- Implementation
In a Java Servlet, we need to implement each and everything like business logic. A single Servlet file contains both business logic and presentation logic. On the contrary, business logic is separated from presentation logic using JavaBeans in JSP.
- Modification
Modifying a Java Servlet requires extensive time. This is because it demands to reload, recompiling, and restarting the server. Comparatively, JSP modifications are fast. A simple refresh will suffice to execute all the latest changes.
- MVC Pattern
While the servlet plays a controller role in MVC pattern, the JSP behaves as the view i.e. it is used for displaying output.
- Package
Any package that needs to be used in a Java Servlet is required to be imported on top of the servlet. No such condition is mandatory for the JSP, where a package can be imported anywhere at the top, middle, or bottom.
- Performance
Both Java Servlets and Java Server Pages serve the same purpose as that of the programs executed using the Common Gateway Interface i.e. CGI. Although both are better than CGI, JSPs are slower compared to Servlets.
A Servlet comes in a precompiled form. Hence, it needs to be executed only. JSP is slower than servlets. This is because the initial step in JSP lifecycle is translating JSP to Java code and then proceeding to compilation.
Servlets implement a component-based, platform-independent method for developing web-based apps but without the performance restrictions of CGI programs. Moreover, Java Servlets have access to the complete set of Java APIs and they also offer better-then-CGI performance.
Other than having the ability to execute within the address space of a web server, Servlets don’t necessitate for developing a separate process for managing each and every client request. Using Servlets and JSP are advantageous overusing CGI.
- Running JavaScript at the Backend
Running JavaScript at client side for achieving certain functionality is supported by JSP but not by the Java servlets.
- Session Management
In JSP, session management is enabled automatically. Contrarily, the session management in a Java Servlet is disabled by default. It needs to be enabled explicitly.
- Structure
A Java Servlet is identical to a Java class but this is not the case with JSP programming, which has a mix of HTML and JavaScript code. Although a JSP application is converted into a Servlet, it resembles PHP files containing Java code embedded into HTML code.
- Support for Requests
While JSP only accepts HTTP requests, a Java Servlet can accept all types of protocol requests. Moreover, we can override the service() method in Servlet but doing the same is not allowed in JSP programming.
- Use Cases
Both JSP and Servlets enable the creation of web-based applications. However, the preference is different. JSP is preferred when not much data processing is required. On the other hand, Java Servlets are best for using when heavy data manipulation and processing is needed.
3. Conclusion
Servlets are server-side programs developed in Java. JSP, on the other hand, is an interface built on top of Java Servlets. It embeds HTML code with some basic Java code. JSP can take care of the UI and cuts the effort required for designing screens.
The custom tags feature of JSP allows building reusable components, hence offering more flexibility than Servlets. Moreover, JSP is the go-to option for dealing with cookie management as well as session tracking.
Nonetheless, Servlets are far too more powerful than JSP in addition to the fact that no JSP can exist without the concept of Servlets.
The main difference between the Web server and application server is that web server is meant to serve static pages e.g. HTML and CSS, while Application Server is responsible for generating dynamic content by executing server-side code e.g. JSP, Servlet or EJB.
The main difference between the Web server and application server is that web server is meant to serve static pages e.g. HTML and CSS, while Application Server is responsible for generating dynamic content by executing server-side code e.g. JSP, Servlet or EJB. ——————- don’t think the above sentences are true. Can’t we execute dynamic content using web application like servlet , JSP? Can you correct it accordingly.
Thanks for sharing article on Difference Between Servlet and JSP… Keet it up.