The Servlet architecture in Java is a Java-based framework for building web applications. It is a specification defined by the Java Community Process (JCP) and is implemented by various web containers such as Apache Tomcat, Jetty, and GlassFish.
The Servlet architecture consists of several components, including:
Servlets: These are the core components of the Servlet architecture. They are Java classes that handle HTTP requests and responses. Servlets are executed by a web container, which is responsible for managing their lifecycle, threading, and security.
Web Containers: Also known as servlet engines, web containers are responsible for managing the lifecycle of servlets, providing services such as request handling, thread management, and security.
JSP (JavaServer Pages): These are Java-based pages that are used to create dynamic web content. JSPs are compiled into servlets by the web container and executed by the servlet engine.
JSP Tag Libraries: These are collections of custom tags that can be used in JSP pages to simplify the creation of dynamic web content.
JavaBeans: These are Java classes that encapsulate business logic and data. They can be used in JSP pages to create dynamic web content.
Filters: These are Java classes that can intercept and modify the requests and responses sent to and from servlets. They can be used to implement security, logging, and other common functionality.
Listeners: These are Java classes that are notified of certain events that occur within the web container, such as a servlet being initialized or a session being created.
In summary, the Servlet architecture provides a powerful and flexible framework for building web applications in Java, by providing a set of components and services to handle HTTP requests and responses, providing a powerful and flexible way to handle web content, and providing a set of components to handle security, logging, and other common functionality.