Apache Tomcat is an implementation of the Java Servlet and JavaServer Pages technologies. But what are servlets? What are JSPs? Servlets are memory-resident Java programs and Tomcat is running inside a servlet container.

Here is a definition from Sun’s servlet site:

“The JavaTM Servlet API provides web developers with a simple, consistent mechanism for extending the functionality of a web server and for accessing existing business systems. A servlet can almost be thought of as an applet that runs on the server side — without a face.”

A definition of JSPs (JavaServer Pages) from Sun’s servlet site:

“JSP technology is an extension of the servlet technology created to support authoring of HTML and XML pages. It makes it easier to combine fixed or static template data with dynamic content.”

JSP can be compared with PHP and ASP, the difference of the three is that PHP uses a C/C++/Java hybrid, ASP uses VBScript, and JSP utilizes the full power of the Java programming language.

Using JSP how can we eliminate enterprise java complexity? We can use SpringSource tc Server which is an enterprise version of Apache Tomcat. SpringSource tc Server is hardened for enterprise use and is coupled with key operational capabilities, advanced diagnostics and is backed by mission-critical support.

It provides a powerful and lightweight benefits of Tomcat along with important enterprise class features and stability. Most of the demanding applications such as banking, manufacturing, health care and mostly all of the industries needed applications is powered by Tomcat and with Spring as the key driver.