Steps to Write Java Servlet Program

Let us see the basic steps to develop java servlet application…

Servlet program is not like, writing java code and execute through command prompt.  We need to follow the following steps in order to develop any servlets program.  Even for a simple HelloWorld program also one must follow this standard directory structure which is prescribed by sun.

• Create one root directory with your own name, and create another directory within that directory with name ‘src’ and now write one servlet program and copy into that ‘src’ folder
• Now create another folder ‘web-inf’ in the root directory, this web-inf folder contains web.xml file will see later
• Create ‘classes’ folder with in web-inf folder
• Compile our servlet program which is in src folder, so we will get one .class file right, just copy this .class file into classes folder in web-inf folder
• By the way, we are going to run our servlet by using Tomcat server.  So we must set the class path for Tomcat related jar file, servlet-api.jar
• You can find this jar file in your Tomcat directory\common\lib\,
• Similarly if we are using Weblogic server, we need to set the class path for weblogic related jar files, i.e weblogic.jar which is in c [your drive]:\bea\weblogic\server\lib
• If our servlet is dealing with any database like MySql or Oracle, it is mandatory for us to create a folder  ‘lib’ with in web-inf folder
• Once everything is done, just copy our root director into Tomcat/webapps folder, and start the server and check the output, i will show you how in the first application

Directory Structure

Steps To Develop Servlet Program

• Set servlet-api.jar ( Will be available in your tomcat/lib folder ) in your class path
• Open notepad or any text editor EditPlus or some thing
• Import javax.servlet.*;
• Import javax.servlet.http.*;
• Create one user defined class whose modifier must be public, which must extends javax.servlet.GenericServlet[Not recommended] or  javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet[recommended]
• We know GenericServlet implementing Servlet interface,  and HttpServlet is the sub class of GenericServlet.  So by default all life cycle methods will be overridden in GenericServlet class, so just override the required [No need all] life cycle methods of servlet in HttpServlet.
• Save your servlet program by giving an extension .java
• You must place your .java files in root folder or in src folder, and .class files in classes files
• Compile and check the result

Yeah these are the basic and default steps for writing any servlet application, i will tell you the more(web.xml, deployments and all…) while we are working with the examples 😉

Once everything is done, just copy our root director into Tomcat/webapps folder, and start the server and check the output, i will show you in the first example.

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• Understanding ServletConfig and ServletContext
• Example on getParameterValues() method of Servlet Request
• Example on getParameterMap() method of Servlet Request Object
• Example on getParameterNames() method of Servlet Request Object

::. About the Author .::
		Sivateja Kandula - Java/J2EE Full Stack Developer Founder of Java4s - Get It Yourself, A popular Java/J2EE Programming Blog, Love Java and UI frameworks. You can sign-up for the Email Newsletter for your daily dose of Java tutorials.