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JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library

Stephanie Bodoff

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 optimize their implementation.

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. JSTL also provides a framework for integrating existing custom tags with JSTL tags.

The JSTL reference documention at <JWSDP_HOME>/docs/jstl/index.html contains some introductory material. For a complete description of the JSTL tags, see the JSTL 1.0 Specification Public Review Draft. This chapter assumes that you are familiar with the material in the Using Tags section of Chapter 16.

In This Chapter
The Example JSP Pages
Using JSTL
Expression Language Support
Twin Libraries
JSTL Expression Language
Tag Collaboration
Core Tags
Expression Tags
Flow Control Tags
URL Tags
XML Tags
Core Tags
Flow Control Tags
Transformation Tags
Internationalization Tags
Setting the Locale
Messaging Tags
Formatting Tags
SQL Tags
query Tag Result-Related Interfaces
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