Java web application

Figure 2-1 Java Web Application Request Handling

Servlets are best suited for service-oriented applications (web service endpoints are implemented as servlets) and the control functions of a presentation-oriented application, such as dispatching requests and handling nontextual data.

JSP pages are more appropriate for generating text-based markup such as HTML, Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), Wireless Markup Language (WML), and XML.

DD web application deployment descriptor

The process for creating, deploying, and executing a web application can be summarized as follows:

Develop the web component code.
Develop the web application deployment descriptor.
Compile the web application components and helper classes referenced by the components.
Optionally package the application into a deployable unit.
Deploy the application into a web container.
Access a URL that references the web application.