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Apache FreeMarker vs JSTL: What are the differences?

Introduction

Apache FreeMarker and JSTL (JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library) are both widely used technologies in web development. While they serve similar purposes of separating business logic from presentation, there are key differences between them. This article will highlight six significant differences between Apache FreeMarker and JSTL.

  1. Syntax: One of the fundamental differences between Apache FreeMarker and JSTL is their syntax. Apache FreeMarker uses its own templating language that resembles HTML with additional features for data binding and logic handling. On the other hand, JSTL utilizes tags and expressions that are embedded within the JSP (JavaServer Pages) markup.

  2. Language Independence: Apache FreeMarker is designed to be language independent, allowing you to work with various programming languages and frameworks. It supports not only Java but also other languages such as PHP, Python, and .NET. In contrast, JSTL is tightly integrated with Java and is typically used with JSP or Servlets.

  3. Flexibility: Apache FreeMarker provides more flexibility in terms of customizing and extending the functionality. It offers a wide range of built-in features and allows for the creation of custom directives and functions. JSTL, on the other hand, has a predefined set of tags and functions, limiting the extensibility options.

  4. Portability: Since Apache FreeMarker is language independent, templates created with it can be reused across different platforms and frameworks. This makes it easier to switch between technologies without having to rewrite the templates. JSTL, being tightly coupled with Java, may not be as portable and may require modification when moving to different frameworks or languages.

  5. Performance: Apache FreeMarker is known for its high-performance rendering engine. It compiles templates to Java bytecode, resulting in faster execution. JSTL, on the other hand, relies on the JSP engine for rendering, which might introduce some overhead and impact performance, especially for complex templates.

  6. Community Support: Both Apache FreeMarker and JSTL have active communities, but the size and scope of community support may differ. Apache FreeMarker, being a standalone templating engine, has a dedicated community that focuses on its development and maintenance. JSTL, being a part of the Java ecosystem, benefits from the vast Java community support.

In summary, Apache FreeMarker and JSTL differ in their syntax, language independence, flexibility, portability, performance, and community support. These differences make each technology suitable for specific use cases and preferences.

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What is Apache FreeMarker?

It is a "template engine"; a generic tool to generate text output (anything from HTML to auto generated source code) based on templates. It's a Java package, a class library for Java programmers.

What is JSTL?

It has support for common, structural tasks such as iteration and conditionals, tags for manipulating XML documents, internationalization tags, and SQL tags. It also provides a framework for integrating the existing custom tags with the JSTL tags.

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