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> ## Introduction to Interactive Web Application Technologies

> ##### Stephanie Bodoff

> In the Java 2 platform, Web components are the foundation technology for providing dynamic, user-oriented Web content. The first type of Web components introduced were Java Servlets. Java Servlets provided a portable, efficient way to extend the functionality of Web servers. Soon after, JavaServer Pages (JSP) technology, which defined another type of Web component, was introduced. JavaServer Pages technology provides a more natural mechanism for mixing static and dynamic Web content.

> The interaction between Web client and a Java-technology based Web application is illustrated in Figure 2-1.The client sends an HTTP request to the Web server. A Web server that implements Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technology converts the request into an `HTTPServletRequest` object. This object is delivered to a Web component which may interact with JavaBeans components or a database to generate dynamic content. The Web component may then generate an `HTTPServletResponse` or it may pass the request to another Web component. Eventually, the response is generated, and Web server returns it to the client.

> Figure 2-1 Java Web Application Request Handling

> Since the introduction of Java Servlet and JSP technology, other Java technologies and frameworks for building interactive Web applications have been developed. These technologies and their relationships are illustrated in Figure 2-2.

> Figure 2-2 Java Web Application Technologies

> Notice that Java Servlet technology is the foundation. Each technology adds a level of abstraction that makes Web application prototyping and development faster and the Web applications themselves more maintainable, scalable, and robust. This chapter starts off with an introduction to interactive Web application architectures. Then we provide an introduction to each of the technologies and summarize their roles in developing interactive Web applications. Later chapters in this tutorial describe how to use the technologies to develop interactive Web applications.

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