JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library

JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library

Stephanie Bodoff

In This Chapter

17.1 The Example JSP Pages

17.2 Using JSTL

17.3 Expression Language Support

17.4 Core Tags

17.5 XML Tags

17.6 Internationalization Tags

17.7 SQL Tags

The JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library ("JSTL") encapsulates core functionality common to many JSP applications. For example, instead of iterating over lists using a scriptlet or different iteration tags from numerous vendors, JSTL defines a standard tag that works the same everywhere. This standardization lets you learn a single tag and use it on multiple JSP containers. Also, when tags are standard, containers can recognize them and optimize their implementations.

JSTL has support for common, structural tasks such as iteration and conditionals, tags for manipulating XML documents, internationalization tags, and tags for accessing databases using SQL. It also introduces the concept of an expression language to simplify page development and includes several experimental languages. JSTL also provides a framework for integrating existing custom tags with JSTL tags.

For a complete description of JSTL tags, see the JSTL reference included with the Java Web Services Developer Pack (Java WSDP) at <JSWDP_HOME >/docs/jstl/index.html. This chapter assumes that you are familiar with the material in the Using Tags (page 434) section of Custom Tags in JSP Pages (page 431).