JSP EL and JSTL

What is the JSP Expression Language?

JSP EL is an easy to use scripting language that enables page developers to create and manipulate Java Server Pages without having to actually program in Java. JSP EL is a bridge between the actual Java code and and the pages that use the Java functionality. JSP EL is not Java; but it encapsulates some common aspects of the Java language. For more information, see The JSP Expression Language

What is the Java Standard Tag Library?

The JSTL is collection of Java classes whose functionality is invoked by XML style tags in JSP's. Common functions include database access, formatting, localization, parsing xml and iteration. For more information, see the JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library.

What is the Jakarta Taglib Project

This is an open source project that facilitates the construction of new tag libraries in addition to the JSTL libraries. For more information, see Jakarta Taglib Descriptions and the Jakarta Taglibs Web Site.

How do I use them?

1. Download the library .jar files from here: Jakarta Taglibs Web Site
2. Copy the files to your web application's /WEB-INF/lib/ directory
3. Restart your servlet container (ie.Tomcat)
4. Create a taglib descriptor file and place it at /WEB-INF/tld/
5. Correctly use the appropriate xml tag in a Java Server Page to invoke the desired function.

This example is served by Apache.

This is the same page served by Tomcat.