What is the Difference Between Struts and Spring MVC?

The main differences between Struts and Spring MVC are:

1. Architecture: Struts follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architectural pattern, while Spring MVC is based on the concept of dependency injection and inversion of control.
2. Coupling: Spring MVC is a loosely coupled framework, whereas Struts is tightly coupled. This means that Spring MVC allows for easier testing and maintenance of the code, as it adheres to the principle of dependency inversion, which means that a class should depend on abstractions, not on concrete implementations.
3. Flexibility: Spring MVC is more flexible than Struts, as it does not force developers to use specific inheritance patterns for their action and form objects. Spring MVC is entirely based on interfaces, allowing for greater customization and extension.
4. Integration: Spring MVC is part of a larger ecosystem with multiple other modules developed on top of its framework, while Struts is primarily used with the J2EE specification and legacy applications.
5. Tag Library Support: Struts supports tag library directives, while Spring MVC does not.
6. ORM Integration: Spring MVC is integrated with Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) technologies, allowing for less coding and better reusability. Struts, on the other hand, supports manual coding and does not have built-in integration with ORM technologies.

In summary, Spring MVC is a more flexible, loosely coupled framework that is part of a larger ecosystem, while Struts is an older framework focused on building web applications using the MVC pattern. Spring MVC is recommended for microservices, serverless software, and batch processing, whereas Struts is recommended for use with the J2EE specification and legacy applications.

Comparative Table: Struts vs Spring MVC

Here is a table comparing the differences between Struts and Spring MVC:

In summary, Struts is a tightly coupled framework that follows the MVC architectural pattern and is recommended for use with legacy applications, while Spring MVC is a loosely coupled framework that provides a clear division between Model, View, and Controller and is best used for modern applications like microservices and serverless software.