JavaServer

JavaServer is a term historically used to describe Java-based server-side web technologies rather than a single standalone product. It encompasses the core components that enable dynamic web content in Java, most notably Java Servlets and JavaServer Pages (JSP). These technologies run on a servlet container or a Java EE (now Jakarta EE) application server and are part of the broader Java platform web stack.

Java Servlets are Java classes that handle HTTP requests and generate responses. They provide a programmatic API for request processing, session management, and interaction with resources such as databases or other services. JavaServer Pages offer a view layer that allows embedding Java code in HTML to produce dynamic content, with JSPs typically compiled into servlets by the container.

Web servers separate concerns by delegating dynamic processing to a servlet container. A container loads and manages servlet lifecycles, routes requests to the appropriate servlet, and compiles JSP pages when needed. Applications are commonly packaged as WAR files (Web ARchives) and deployed to the server. Configuration may be defined via deployment descriptors (web.xml) or through annotation-based programming.

Common implementations include Apache Tomcat, Jetty (both primarily servlet containers), and full-fledged Java EE/Jakarta EE servers such as GlassFish/Payara and WildFly. These platforms provide additional features like security, transactions, scalability, and resource management.

Today, JavaServer technologies remain relevant in legacy systems and in environments emphasizing Java-based server-side rendering. While modern web development has expanded with alternative templating approaches and front-end frameworks, Servlet and JSP-based stacks continue to underpin many enterprise applications and educational contexts. See also: Java Servlets, JavaServer Pages, Jakarta EE, servlet container.