8 Java Web App Development Technologies and Their Uses
You must've heard that Java is a powerful, flexible programming language with a widely used set of tools for web application development. You can easily create secured and dynamic apps with Java web app development technologies. However, did you know that apps can be developed in Java without using any additional scripting language? If not, let's see how these technologies help to build web apps.
Top Java Web Application Technologies
There are numerous web app technologies available to create Java web apps, and here are some prominent ones: Java Servlet, Java Server Pages, JDBC, etc.
The technologies based on Java can provide a fast way to create dynamic web content, rapid web development, and server-and-platform independence. A platform like Java EE (Enterprise Edition) renders various Java technologies for developing web apps.
Let's begin.
1. Java Servlet API
The Java Servlet API offers a platform-independent service for creating web apps. The javax.servlet package includes several interfaces such as servlet, filter, filterchain, servletconfig, etc. In addition, this API is responsible for enhancing the capability of servers that are used to host apps.
● Java Servlet API allows users to define HTTP-specific classes. The Servlet class enlarges servers' capabilities, which host apps, and is also accessed through a request-response programming model.
● The web app that is created with the help of Servlet in Java follows the request-response model. They are used to extend the apps hosted by web servers. Many web apps are developed with Java Servlet extensions.
● It runs on the server-side as an application GUI or HTML user interface (UI).
● Java Servlet can respond to any request as they are generally used to extend the apps hosted by web servers.
2. JavaServer Pages Technology
JavaServer Pages (JSP) technology is in demand among developers. It allows users to create web content with static and dynamic components and provides a simplified and faster way to develop dynamic web content. This technology offers a more natural way of creating static content. It also leads to the rapid development of web apps that are platform and server-independent.
Users can also add code snippets into the text document of the app that makes JSP developer-friendly. This technology works in the creation of JSP pages, which are javax.servlet.jsp, javax.el, javax.servlet.jsp.tagext, and javax.servlet.jsp.el. Nevertheless, all you need to do is import them directly. Not only this, JSP makes it easy to create a web app in the presence of snipped JSP code and extensions.
3. JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library
JSTL, or JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library, is a collection of proper JSP tags that encapsulates the core functionality standard to several JSP apps. Moreover, it also supports standard & structural tasks such as iteration and conditionals, tags for manipulating XML documents, internationalization tags, and SQL tags. Finally, it also offers a framework for integrating existing custom tags with JSL tags.
4. JavaServer Faces Technology
A server-side component framework, JavaServer Faces Technology, is used for building Java technology-based web apps. In other words, it is responsible for forming the UI framework to build web apps.
Here's what you can build using JavaServer Faces Technology:
● Build a web page
● Wire component-generated events to server-side app code.
● Reuse or extend components via customization.
5. Java Message Service API
JMS (Java Message Service) API is a powerful tool as it combines Java technology with enterprise messaging to solve enterprise computing problems. It also solves the problem of communication between components and serves the purpose. It offers a flexible and reliable medium for the exchange of data. This technology extends the functionality of the provider framework to allow the development of portable messaging apps in Java.
6. JDBC API
JDBC, or Java Database Connectivity, includes methods and queries to access the database. It provides universal data access from the Java programming language. Using this technology, users can access virtually any data source, from relational databases to spreadsheets and flat files. That's why it's pretty popular among developers.
JDBC API also enables them to invoke database SQL commands within Java programs.
The best thing about this web app development technology is that there is no restriction involved as users can invoke JDBC API in servlet, JSP pages, or enterprise bean. Mainly, JDBC is made of two parts i.e., 1) Application-level interface and 2) Service provider interface.
● Application-level interface: It is used to access a database via application components.
● Server Provider Interface: It integrates a JDBC driver to the Java enterprise platform.
7. Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI)
As its name implies, JNDI enables apps to access several naming and directory services. Plus, it provides apps with methods that can perform standard directory operations such as object search, attribute association, etc.
It stores and retrieves several Java technology objects enabling the app to sync with various apps and systems. JNDI also allows developers to access several other web components and naming services.
Developers can also customize the components by preventing access issues with source code.
8. Java API for XML Processing (JAXP)
A flexible Java web app development technology, JAXP, facilitates any XML-compliant parser or the XSL processor within the app. JAXP technology also supports the W3C schema. It means that this Java web app development technology offers namespace support, which enables apps to work with schemas. The best thing about JAXP is that its flexibility allows developers to use XML-compliant and XSL processors from your app.
Final Thoughts
Making one choice out of these leading technologies can be a daunting task, especially since every technology is full of attributes and significance. However, as per the project's requirement, Java developers can leverage these technologies by understanding their capabilities. Therefore, if you are confused between Nodejs vs. Java to select the best technology for web application development, it would be great to discuss your goals with any professional web app development company.
Share your thoughts on Java web app development in the comments section.
Author Bio: Hardik Shah is a Tech Consultant at Simform, a firm that provides custom software development services. He leads large-scale mobility programs that cover platforms, solutions, governance, standardization, and best practices.