Java Server Faces

Java Server Faces (JSF) enables building of user interfaces for Java-based web applications from the

server-side programs. JSF supports:

Standard user interface components like input fields, buttons, and links.

Navigation between pages.

User input validation, error handling and event handing.

Javabean management.

Internationalization support.

JSF is an application framework, which helps you in designing and structuring your web applications.

Other Java web application frameworks include Apache Struts, Spring, Hibernate, Apache Tapestry,

Apache Wicket, and many others. An application framework helps you to improve your productivity and

efficiency, by providing clear processes and pre-defined components, enforcing MVC (Model-View-

Controller) architecture and good programming practices.

Framework, such as JSF and struts, are not easy to use. You need to spend a considerable amount of initial effort to learn (it is equivalent to learning another language). However, once you master a

framework, you could develop better applications in faster time. However, there are many frameworks

available. Choosing one could be an issue.

JSF has these versions:

Java EE 5 (2006) (Java Servlet 2.5, JSP 2.1, JSTL 1.2, JSF 1.2, EJB 3.0, JDBC 3.0)

Java EE 6 (2009) (Java Servlet 3.0, JSP 2.2/EL 2.2, JSTL 1.2, JSF 2.0, EJB 3.1, JDBC 4.0)

JSF 2.1: Bundled in GlassFish 3.1