Even if you aren't a programmer, you can design Web sites with dynamic content generated by JavaServer Pages (JSPs). That's the idea in JavaServer Pages, a very approachable and patient tutorial suitable for anyone with basic HTML knowledge.

Early sections explain how JSPs and Java servlets work. (In short, JSPs provide an easy way to write servlets, a powerful alternative to CGI scripts or Microsoft Active Server Pages, ASPs). With JSPs, you write HTML with embedded tags, so you don't have to be a Java expert to use them.

The strength of this text has to be the author's practically minded tutorial showing these pages in action. Dozens of short programming excerpts provide a solid tour of basic techniques, including retrieving form variables and generating dynamic content for a sample news Web site. Later, the author delves into the Java programming language itself, along with custom JavaBeans for use within JSPs.

Closing chapters enhance the sample Web site with personalization and even basic e-commerce capabilities. Chances are this case study is all you need to start making use of JSPs and beans successfully on your own. By centering on JSPs first and then working inward to the details of Java, the text can benefit a wide range of readers. Content creators can learn JSPs and gain exposure to some real Java, while serious Java programmers can learn a much simpler approach to writing servlets. Provided you know HTML and the basics of Web development, this easy-to-digest and worthwhile book can let you build Web sites that take advantage of one of today's most powerful server-side technologies.
Topics covered: History of dynamic content with HTML, CGI scripts, Active Server Pages (ASPs), introduction to Java Server Pages (JSPs) and servlets, JSP comments and basic statements, error handling, request time processing and expressions, implicit JSP objects, retrieving user form variables, properties and serialization, basic Java programming (variables, keywords, objects, and simple class design), JSP scriptlets, conditionals, scoping rules, local, page, request and session scope, managing session information, designing JavaBeans, database and SQL basics, personalization techniques, dynamics ads, adding simple e-commerce capabilities, servlet events and APIs, using servlets with JSPs, introduction to XML and multithreaded programming, sample JSP code, and a case study for a news Web site. — This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.