A JSP page is a text-based document that describes how to process a request to create a

response. The description intermixes template data with some dynamic actions and
leverages
on the Java 2 Platform.
JSP pages and Servlet classes are collectively referred to as Web Components. JSP pages
are delivered to a Container that provides the services indicated in the JSP Component
Contract.
JSP pages are textual components. They go through two phases a translation phase! and
a request phase. Translation is done once per page. The re"uest phase is done once per
re"uest.
The result of the translation phase is the creation of a Servlet class the JSP page
implementation class which will be instantiated at re"uest time. The JSP page
implementation object handles re"uests and creates responses.
#t is possible to perform the translation phase early $what sometimes is called compiling
the JSP pages into Servlets% and deliver in a &eb Application! transparently! a Servlet
class that will behave as the textual representation of the JSP page.
The translation phase may also be done by the JSP container at deployment time! or
ondemand as the re"uests reach a JSP page that has not yet been translated.
The 'ey features of JavaServerPages are
(. Standard directives
2. Standard actions
). Scripting elements
*. Tag +xtension mechanism
,. Template content