JSP
Master JavaServer Pages (JSP) from the ground up. This comprehensive course covers the JSP lifecycle, scripting elements, expression language, JSTL, and session management, then builds into the MVC pattern with Servlets, through 24 hands-on lessons.
Start Learning →What is JSP?
JavaServer Pages (JSP) is a technology for building dynamic, HTML-based web pages using Java, running on a servlet container like Apache Tomcat. A JSP file looks like HTML with embedded Java logic, and behind the scenes it is compiled into a servlet the first time it's requested.
JSP predates most modern frontend frameworks and is the templating layer behind the classic Java web MVC pattern (Servlets as controllers, JSP as views). It remains widely present in legacy enterprise systems, and understanding it is genuinely useful for maintaining and modernizing real-world Java web applications.
A JSP file is never executed directly — the servlet container translates it into a full Java servlet class and compiles that, which is why the very first request to a JSP page is often noticeably slower than the requests that follow.
Where is JSP Used?
JSP remains present in a large amount of existing enterprise Java infrastructure. Here are the major application areas:
Legacy Enterprise Web Apps
Countless internal corporate systems still run on JSP and Servlets.
Banking & Government Portals
Older, stable systems in regulated industries often still use JSP.
University & Institutional Systems
Many long-running institutional web portals were built with JSP.
Internal Admin Tools
Simple server-rendered admin panels are still sometimes built with JSP.
Java EE Learning & Certification
JSP remains part of the foundational Java EE/Jakarta EE curriculum.
System Maintenance & Modernization
Understanding JSP is essential for maintaining or migrating legacy systems.
Real-World Examples
Here are some practical applications you can build using JSP:
Example 1: Student Registration Form
Build a form that submits to a Servlet, which forwards results back to a JSP view.
Example 2: Login with Session Tracking
Build a login page that stores the logged-in user in the HTTP session.
Example 3: Dynamic Report Table
Use JSTL to loop over a list of records and render an HTML table.
Example 4: Shared Layout with Includes
Build a consistent header/footer using JSP includes across multiple pages.
Why Learn JSP?
Career
- Valuable for maintaining the large amount of existing enterprise Java software still in production
- Frequently required for Java EE/Jakarta EE-focused enterprise roles
- A common part of Java web development certification paths
- Useful for consulting/contracting work modernizing legacy systems
Foundational Understanding
- Teaches the classic Servlet-JSP MVC pattern that shaped later Java web frameworks
- Understanding request/response and session handling at a low level
- Makes learning Spring MVC's view layer feel much more familiar
- A clear, direct way to see how a request becomes rendered HTML
Practical & Simple
- No complex build tooling required — deploy to Tomcat and go
- JSTL and Expression Language keep view logic clean and readable
- Runs on the same JVM and libraries as the rest of your Java backend
- A gentle way to learn server-side rendering concepts
Historical Context
- Understand the technology that came before Spring MVC and Thymeleaf
- See where many "modern" web framework ideas actually originated
- Useful context when reading about the broader Java EE ecosystem
- Still referenced constantly in enterprise Java documentation
Code Example
Here is a small taste of JSP — using Expression Language and JSTL to render a list without any raw Java scriptlets:
<%@ taglib prefix="c" uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/core" %><html><body> <h2>Student: ${student.name}</h2> <p>Marks: ${student.marks}</p>
<c:if test="${student.marks >= 60}"> <p>Grade: First Class</p> </c:if>
<ul> <c:forEach var="course" items="${student.courses}"> <li>${course}</li> </c:forEach> </ul></body></html>Click Run to see what this code prints.
Expression Language (${...}) for reading values, and JSTL core tags (<c:if>, <c:forEach>) for logic and loops — the modern, scriptlet-free way to write JSP.
Course Curriculum
Follow these 24 lessons sequentially to build a deep, practical understanding of JSP.
Understand the JSP lifecycle and scripting elements first, then move to Expression Language and JSTL — modern JSP code relies on those instead of raw scriptlets. Finish forms, sessions, and includes before the MVC pattern lesson, which ties JSP and Servlets together into one architecture.
Projects You'll Build
Apply your knowledge by building these real-world projects:
Student Registration System
Build a form-driven app using Servlets as controllers and JSP as views.
Login System with Sessions
Build a login flow that tracks logged-in users with HTTP sessions.
Dynamic Report Page
Render a data table and summary using JSTL core and formatting tags.
Frequently Asked Questions
For new projects, modern alternatives (Spring MVC with Thymeleaf, or separate frontend frameworks) are far more common — but JSP remains genuinely useful for maintaining the large amount of existing enterprise Java software that still runs on it.
A Servlet is Java code that can generate HTML; a JSP is HTML that can embed Java code. In practice, JSP is used for views (what the user sees) and Servlets are used as controllers (handling requests and logic) — this course covers both.
Yes — solid core Java (classes, objects) is assumed. If you're new to Java, our Java course is a good prerequisite.
JSTL (JSP Standard Tag Library) provides tags like <c:if> and <c:forEach> so you can write loops and conditionals without embedding raw Java code in your HTML — considered a best practice over old-style scriptlets.
Spring MVC (a more modern take on the same Servlet/view pattern) is a natural next step, along with our Spring Framework course.
Key Takeaways & Summary
- JSP lets you build dynamic web pages using HTML with embedded Java, compiled into a servlet behind the scenes.
- Expression Language and JSTL are the modern, readable way to write JSP — avoid raw scriptlets when possible.
- The classic Java web MVC pattern pairs Servlets (controllers) with JSP (views).
- Sessions and cookies are how JSP applications track state across requests.
- This 24-lesson course takes you from your first JSP page through the full MVC pattern into a real project.
Begin with the Introduction lesson, complete each topic in order, and run every example yourself on a local Tomcat server — the JSP lifecycle clicks much faster once you have watched a page compile and render for real.