Updated March 6, 2023
Difference Between JSP and Servlet
Java Server Pages (JSP) is a server-side programming technology that allows the creation of a dynamic, platform-independent method for developing Web-based applications. JSP have access to the whole family of Java APIs, including the JDBC API, to access enterprise databases. JavaServer Pages (JSP) is a technology for creating Web pages that support dynamic content. This helps programmers embed java code in HTML pages by making use of specific JSP tags, most of which begin with <% and end with %>. Servlets implement a component-based, platform-independent method for developing Web-based applications without the performance restrictions of CGI programs. Servlets have access to the complete family of Java APIs, including the JDBC API, to access enterprise databases. Servlets are platform-independent because they are drafted in Java.Java security manager on the server implements a set of limitations to preserve the resources on a server machine.
What is JSP?
A JavaServer Pages component is a type of Java servlet that is intended to fulfill the role of a user interface for a Java web application. Web developers create JSPs as text files that join HTML or XHTML code, XML elements, and embedded JSP actions and commands. Using JSP, you can assemble input from users over Webpage forms, present records from a database or different sources, and build Web pages dynamically. JSP tags can be used for a variety of purposes, such as retrieving data from a database or registering user preferences, accessing JavaBeans components, passing control among pages, and sharing information between requests, pages etc.JavaServer Pages usually serve the same purpose as programs executed using the Common Gateway Interface (CGI).
But JSP offers many benefits in contrast with the CGI. Firstly, Performance is significantly greater because JSP enables embedding Dynamic Elements in HTML Pages itself instead of having separate CGI files. Secondly, JSP is forever compiled before they are processed by the server, unlike CGI/Perl, which needs the server to load an interpreter and the target script each time the page is requested. Moreover, JavaServer Pages are created on top of the Java Servlets API, so like Servlets, JSP also has access to all the influential Enterprise Java APIs, including JDBC, JNDI, EJB, JAXP, etc.JSP pages can be used in combination with servlets that manage the business logic, the model supported by Java servlet template engines. Finally, JSP is a fundamental part of Java EE, a complete platform for enterprise-class applications. This implies that JSP can play a part in the simplest applications to the most complex and demanding.
What is Servlet?
Java Servlets are programs that run on a Web or Application server and act as a middle layer among requests coming from a Web browser or different HTTP client and databases or applications on the HTTP server. Using Servlets, you can collect input from users through web page forms, present records from a database or different source, and develop web pages dynamically.Java Servlets usually serve the same purpose as programs executed using the Common Gateway Interface (CGI).
But Servlets offer various benefits in association with the CGI. They are Performance is significantly greater; Servlets execute within the address space of a Web server. It is not essential to develop a separate process to manage every client request. So servlets remain trusted. The complete functionality of the Java class libraries is available to a servlet. It can interact with applets, databases, or different software through the sockets and RMI mechanisms that you have observed already.
Head To Head Comparison Between JSP and Servlet (Infographics)
Below is the top 5 difference between JSP vs Servlet
Key Differences Between JSP and Servlet
Both are popular choices in the market; let us discuss some of the major difference:
- Modification in Servlet is a time-consuming task because it involves reloading, recompiling and restarting the server. While JSP modification is fast, it just requires clicking the refresh button.
- In Servlet, we have to execute everything like business logic and presentation logic in just one servlet file. Whereas, In JSP, business logic is isolated from presentation logic by using JavaBeans.
- Servlet can accept every protocol requests and can override the service() method. While JSP only receives HTTP requests and not possible to override its service() method.
- Servlet is a java code; moreover, Writing code for the servlet is difficult than JSP as it is HTML in Java. Whereas JSP is an HTML based code, and JSP is simple to code as it is java in HTML.
- Servlets executes inside a Web server, such as Tomcat, While, A JSP program is compiled into a Java servlet before execution. Once it is compiled into a servlet, it’s life cycle will be similar as that of a servlet. However, JSP has its individual API for the lifecycle.
JSP vs Servlet Comparison Table
Below is the topmost comparison between JSP vs Servlet
| The basis of comparison |
JSP |
Servlet |
| Definition | A JSP is a text document which comprises two types of text: static data and dynamic data. The static data can be represented in any text-based format (like HTML, XML, SVG, and WML), and the dynamic content can be expressed by JSP elements. | A servlet is a Java class which is used to extend the abilities of servers that host applications accessed by means of a request-response model. Servlets are essentially used to extend the applications hosted by webs servers, yet, they can respond to different types of requests too. For such applications, HTTP-specific servlet classes are specified by Java Servlet technology. |
| Session Management | Session management is automatically enabled in JSP. | In Servlet, by default, session management is disabled; the user has to enable it explicitly. |
| MVC Pattern | In the MVC pattern, JSP is used for displaying output data, i.e. in MVC, it is a view. | Servlet plays a controller role in the MVC pattern |
| Performance | JSP is slower than Servlet because the initial step in the JSP lifecycle is the translation of JSP to java code also then compile. | In Performance, Servlet is faster than JSP. |
| Package | In JSP, package imported wherever top, middle and bottom. | In Servlet, every package needs to be imported on top of the servlet. |
Conclusion
Conclusively, Servlets are principally server-side programs developed completely in Java. JSP is fundamentally an interface built on top of Servlets. The benefit of JSP is that it takes care of the UI part and reduces the developer effort to design the screens. JSP is helpful for UI programmers, as it embeds HTML with some basic Java coding, and the server-side processing logic can be taken care of by the Servlets. JSP has the custom tags characteristic, which enables us to build reusable components, making it extra flexible compared to servlets. JSP is useful for session tracking and cookie management, and as a single thread handles each request, it’s far extra efficient.
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