Chapter 15
Java Servlet Technology

Shortly after the Web began to be used for delivering services, service providers recognized the need for dynamic content. Applets, one of the earliest attempts toward this goal, focused on using the client platform to deliver dynamic user experiences. At the same time, developers also investigated using the server platform for the same purpose. Initially, Common Gateway Interface (CGI) server-side scripts were the main technology used to generate dynamic content. Although widely used, CGI scripting technology had many shortcomings, including platform dependence and lack of scalability. To address these limitations, Java Servlet technology was created as a portable way to provide dynamic, user-oriented content.

The following topics are addressed here:

• What Is a Servlet?

• Servlet Lifecycle

• Sharing Information

• Creating and Initializing a Servlet

• Writing Service Methods

• Filtering Requests and Responses

• Invoking Other Web Resources

• Accessing the Web Context

• Maintaining Client State

• Finalizing a Servlet

• The mood Example Application

• Further Information about Java Servlet Technology