What is the Difference Between JSP and Servlets?

The main difference between JSP and Servlets lies in their purpose, code structure, and ease of use. Here are the key differences between the two:

1. Purpose:

• Servlets are Java-based code that handles the server-side processing and can extend the capabilities of web servers hosting applications.
• JSP (JavaServer Pages) is an interface built on top of Servlets that provides added functionalities, making it easier for developers to manage and integrate the UI part of applications in JSP files.

1. Code Structure:

• Servlets are written in Java code with embedded HTML.
• JSPs are HTML-based files with Java code embedded within them, making them easier to code and maintain.

1. Ease of Use:

• Writing code for Servlets is considered harder than JSPs, as they involve writing HTML in Java.
• JSPs are easier to code, as they involve writing Java code within HTML, making it more intuitive for developers.

1. Data Processing:

• Servlets can handle extensive data processing.
• JSPs are not as efficient in handling data processing functions.

1. MVC Architecture:

• In an MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture, Servlets act as the controller.
• In MVC architectures, JSPs act as the view for displaying output.

1. Session Management:

• Servlets do not provide default session management, and users need to enable it explicitly.
• JSPs provide session management by default.

1. Protocol Requests:

• Servlets can accept all protocol requests, including HTTP.
• JSP can only accept HTTP requests.

1. Custom Tags:

• Servlets do not provide the facility of writing custom tags.
• JSPs provide the facility of writing custom tags that can directly call Java beans.

In conclusion, Servlets are more suitable for handling server-side processing and data processing, while JSPs are more suitable for UI development and management. The choice between the two depends on the specific requirements of the web application being developed.

Comparative Table: JSP vs Servlets

Here is a table comparing the differences between Java Servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSP):

In summary, servlets are Java classes that extend the capabilities of web servers and are mainly used for data processing tasks. JSPs are HTML documents with embedded Java code, making them easier to work with for developers familiar with HTML and Java. JSPs are typically used for display purposes and can be slower to execute than servlets due to the additional parsing and compilation steps required. Both servlets and JSPs have their specific use cases and can be used together in a web application, with servlets handling data processing and JSPs responsible for displaying the results.