Difference between Servlet and JSF
Last Updated :
23 Jul, 2025
Servlet
Servlets are Java programs that run on a server and handle client requests to generate dynamic web content. They operate at a lower level within the Java EE framework, providing a powerful and flexible mechanism for building web applications. Servlets are mainly used to extend the applications hosted by web services.
Pseudo Code/Syntax
import javax.servlet.*;
import javax.servlet.http.*;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.PrintWriter;
public class HelloWorldServlet extends HttpServlet {
protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
response.setContentType("text/html");
PrintWriter out = response.getWriter();
out.println("<html>");
out.println("<head><title>Hello World GeeksforGeeks</title></head>");
out.println("<body>");
out.println("<h1>Hello, Geeks!</h1>");
out.println("</body>");
out.println("</html>");
}
}
JSF
JavaServer Faces (JSF) is a Java framework for building component-based user interfaces for web applications. It abstracts many of the complexities involved in developing web UI by providing a robust set of reusable UI components and managing the state of these components.
Pseudo Code/Syntax
//JSF Facelets Page (XHTML)
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html xmlns="https://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml/"
xmlns:h="http://www.oracle.com/webfolder/technetwork/jsc/xml/ns/index.html">
<head>
<title>Hello GFG</title>
</head>
<body>
<h:form>
<h:outputText value="#{helloWorldBean.message}" />
</h:form>
</body>
</html>
Servlet | JSF |
|---|
Low-level API for handling HTTP requests and responses. | Higher-level framework for building component-based user interfaces. |
Typically used for backend logic and processing. | Focuses on frontend UI development, integrating well with backend services. |
Directly writes HTML and handles HTTP responses via PrintWriter or similar. | Uses Facelets (XHTML) for defining UI components and templates. |
Integrates with other frameworks and libraries like JSP, JSTL, and custom tag libraries. | Integrates seamlessly with other Java EE technologies and provides a rich set of built-in components. |
Requires explicit handling of page navigation and state management. | Uses built-in navigation and state management features. |
More control over the request and response lifecycle, but with more complexity. | Simplifies UI development with built-in components and event handling. |
Error handling and validation need to be implemented manually. | Provides built-in support for validation and error handling with ease. |
Deployment typically involves packaging as a WAR file for a servlet container. | Also deployed as a WAR file but includes configuration for JSF-specific features and libraries. |
More control over the request and response lifecycle, but with more complexity. | Simplifies UI development with built-in components and event handling. |
To read more about them in detail, read these articles on Servlet and JSF
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