JSP Scripting Elements:

In JSP we can write blocks of java code.You can do this by placing your Java code between <% and %> characters.This block of code is known as a "scripting element".Scripting element contains Java code that is executed every time the JSP is invoked.

Scripting elements can be classified in 3 categories:

  1. Declaration Tags.
  2. Expression Tags.
  3. Scriptles.

In JSP we can write blocks of java code.You can do this by placing your Java code between <% and %> characters.This block of code is known as a "scripting element".Scripting element contains Java code that is executed every time the JSP is invoked.

Scripting elements can be classified in 3 categories:

  1. Declaration Tags.
  2. Expression Tags.
  3. Scriptles.


Declaration Tags:

Declaration Tags is used to define variables and methods in JSP like java. Declaration Tag starts with <%! and ends with %>

The Code placed inside this tag must end with a semicolon (;).

For example, if you want to declare a variable x, ,you can use JSP declaration as follows:

<%! int x = 10; %>

The final semicolon is required.

We can also declare a method using declaration tag as given bellow:

<%! private int squre(int i)
      {
             i = i * i ;
             return i;
      }   
%>

Expression Tags :

Expression is one of the most basic scripting element in JSP. Expression is used to insert value directly to the output.

An expression tag contains a scripting language expression that is evaluated, converted to a String, and inserted where the expression appears in the JSP file.

After the expression is evaluated the result is converted to a String and displayed.If any part of the expression is an Object,then the conversion is done using the toString() method of the Object.

Expression Tag starts with <%= and ends with %>

There should not be space between <% and =. For example, if you want to display the current date and time, you can use an expression as follows:

<%= new java.util.Date()%>

Scriptlets :

A scriptlet is a block of java code spec that is executed at run time. Scriptlets starts with <% and ends with %>.

Scriptlet is similar to expression except the equal sign “=”. You can insert any plain Java code inside a scriptlet.Following example display the current date and time.

<body>
  <%
    Date date = new Date();
    out.println("Current Time is "+date);
  %>
  </body>

Complete Example containing all scriptlet Tags :

<body>
  <!-- Declaration Tag Example -->
  <%! 
    int a = 15;
    String name = "Mukesh";
  %>
  
  <!-- Expression Tag Example -->
  <%=name %>
  
  <!-- Scriptlet Example -->
  <%
    Date date = new Date();
    out.println("Current Time is "+date);
  %>
  
  </body>


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