N
The Global Insight

What is Servlet program

Author

Andrew Campbell

Updated on April 14, 2026

A servlet is a Java programming language class that is used to extend the capabilities of servers that host applications accessed by means of a request-response programming model. Although servlets can respond to any type of request, they are commonly used to extend the applications hosted by web servers.

What is servlet and how it works?

Servlets are the Java programs that run on the Java-enabled web server or application server. They are used to handle the request obtained from the webserver, process the request, produce the response, then send a response back to the webserver. Properties of Servlets are as follows: Servlets work on the server-side.

What is called servlet?

javax.servlet. Interface Servlet. All Known Implementing Classes: GenericServlet, HttpServlet public interface Servlet. Defines methods that all servlets must implement. A servlet is a small Java program that runs within a Web server.

What is a servlet explain with an example?

Simply put, a Servlet is a class that handles requests, processes them and reply back with a response. For example, we can use a Servlet to collect input from a user through an HTML form, query records from a database, and create web pages dynamically.

What is servlet in HTML?

A servlet is an extension to a server that enhances the server’s functionality. … Web servers display documents written in HyperText Markup Language (HTML) and respond to user requests using the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

What is the difference between servlet and JSP?

Servlet is faster than JSP. JSP is slower than Servlet because the first step in JSP lifecycle is the translation of JSP to java code and then compile. Servlet can accept all protocol requests. JSP only accept http requests.

What are the advantages of servlet?

  • Better performance: because it creates a thread for each request, not process.
  • Portability: because it uses Java language.
  • Robust: JVM manages Servlets, so we don’t need to worry about the memory leak, garbage collection, etc.
  • Secure: because it uses java language.

Is servlet a framework?

Action-based frameworks:Apache Struts, Spring MVCWeb template systems:Apache Tiles, SiteMesh, Thymeleaf

What are the 3 ways of creating a servlet program explain with syntax?

  • By implementing the Servlet interface.
  • By inheriting the GenericServlet class.
  • By inheriting the HttpServlet class.
Are servlets still used?

Servlets yes. Servlets are something we no longer use raw, but they are the essential bridge between Java and the web. All Java web frameworks end up going through the Servlets API, so it’s good to be familiar with it. But it is pretty easy: an HTTP request and an HTTP response.

Article first time published on

What is JEE container?

Containers are the interface between a component and the low-level platform-specific functionality that supports the component. Before a web, enterprise bean, or application client component can be executed, it must be assembled into a Java EE module and deployed into its container.

Does servlet have main method?

There is no main method in a Java servlet any more than than an ActionListener on a Swing JButton has a main method. What they both do have are methods that you can hook into when a certain event happens (a click on the JButton for example, or an HTTP PUT request on a HttpServlet).

What is JSP life cycle?

A JSP life cycle is defined as the process from its creation till the destruction. This is similar to a servlet life cycle with an additional step which is required to compile a JSP into servlet.

How is a servlet implemented in code?

Servlets are Java classes which service HTTP requests and implement the javax. servlet. … http. HttpServlet, an abstract class that implements the Servlet interface and is specially designed to handle HTTP requests.

What is the difference between CGI and servlet?

BasisServletCGIData SharingData sharing is possible.Data sharing is not possible.LinkIt links directly to the server.It does not links directly to the server.

How pass data from servlet to HTML?

  1. Create a Servlet subclassing “strictly” generic Servlet (as opposed to HttpServlet).
  2. Pass a value from the servlet to a newer HTML page.
  3. Display the message from the servlet on the HTML page. If there is no message, display null (nothing).

What are the disadvantages of servlet?

  • One servlet is loaded into JVM. …
  • When there is a request, there is a thread, not a process.
  • Servlet is persistent until it destroys.
  • Designing in a servlet is difficult and slows down the application.
  • You need a JRE(Java Runtime Environment) on the server to run servlets.

What is the difference between applet and servlet?

A Java applet is a small application which is written in Java and delivered to users in the form of bytecode. A servlet is a Java programming language class used to extend the capabilities of a server. Applets are executed on client side. Servlets are executed on server side.

What is Tomcat server used for?

What is Apache Tomcat? Essentially it’s an open-source Java servlet and Java Server Page container that lets developers implement an array of enterprise Java applications. Tomcat also runs a HTTP web server environment in which Java code can run.

Should I learn servlets before spring?

Short answer: no, you don’t need to learn Servlets and JSPs as a pre-requisite for Spring MVC and many other Java web frameworks.

What is the difference between servlet and Java?

ServletJSPServlets are Java-based codes.JSP are HTML-based codes.

Is JSP better than PHP?

JSP support for APIs is very huge since it’s based on Java programming language, whereas PHP has limited access to APIs. JSP execution requires more time since it is translated into Servlet, compiled and executed, whereas PHP execution requires less time than JSP.

Where can I run servlet program?

  1. Create a directory structure under Tomcat for your application.
  2. Write the servlet source code. You need to import the javax. servlet package and the javax. servlet. …
  3. Compile your source code.
  4. Create a deployment descriptor.
  5. Run Tomcat.
  6. Call your servlet from a web browser.

What are the two main types of servlet?

  • Generic servlets. Extend javax. servlet. GenericServlet. Are protocol independent. …
  • HTTP servlets. Extend javax. servlet. HttpServlet. Have built-in HTTP protocol support and are more useful in a Sun Java System Web Server environment.

What is URL pattern in servlet mapping?

The url-pattern element of a servlet-mapping or a filter-mapping associates a filter or servlet with a set of URLs. When a request arrives, the container uses a simple procedure for matching the URL in the request with a url-pattern in the web. xml file.

What is Cookies in Java?

A cookie is a small information sent by a web server to a web client. Cookies are saved at the client-side for the given domain and path. The cookie file persists on the client machine and the client browser returns the cookies to the original. … The Servlet API provides a class named Cookie under the javax. servlet.

What is Java Tech?

Java is a technology consisting of both a programming language and a software platform. To create an application using Java, you need to download the Java Development Kit (JDK), which is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

What are the advantages of servlet over CGI?

The Advantages of Servlets Over “Traditional” CGI. Java servlets are more efficient, easier to use, more powerful, more portable, safer, and cheaper than traditional CGI and many alternative CGI-like technologies.

Is servlet used in 2021?

No, servlets are used a lot in Java, e.g. for MVC. Most of the time you would not use Servlets in the classic way by just writing html code in strings, but you can use some kind of template language to generate HTML code very well.

How long will it take to learn Servlets?

If you are a average developer it will take approximate a month to expertise. If you are a very good developer then it will take approximately 10- 15 days. And if you are new to programming then first learn Java programming get some good hands on after that move to JSP & Servlets.

Does Java Spring use servlets?

Spring internally uses the servlet. The DispatcherServlet in Spring front controller is built on Servlet. There are other classes of spring also present which uses servlet.