JavaServer Pages (JSP) is a technology that allows developers to create dynamic web pages using Java as the programming language. It was introduced by Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle Corporation) as part of the Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) to simplify the process of developing web applications.

Key Features of JavaServer Pages:

1. Server-Side Technology: JSP is a server-side technology, which means that the web pages are processed and generated on the server before being sent to the client’s web browser. This enables developers to embed Java code directly into the HTML markup, making it easier to create dynamic content and interact with databases and other backend systems.
2. Java Code Integration: JSP allows developers to use Java code within HTML tags using special delimiters. This combination of Java and HTML is referred to as JavaServer Pages Markup Language (JSP ML). Java code in JSP can be used to perform calculations, make decisions, and access data from databases, among other tasks.
3. Tag Libraries: JSP provides custom tag libraries, such as JavaServer Pages Standard Tag Library (JSTL) and JavaServer Faces (JSF), which offer a set of predefined tags for common tasks. These tag libraries simplify the development process by abstracting complex tasks into simple tags that can be inserted into JSP pages.
4. Expression Language (EL): The Expression Language is a simplified way to access Java objects and their properties within JSP pages. It allows developers to access and manipulate data without using scriptlet code (Java code embedded in the JSP page), making the code more readable and maintainable.
5. Model-View-Controller (MVC) Architecture: JSP encourages the use of the MVC architecture, separating the application logic (model), presentation (view), and user interface (controller). This design pattern promotes code modularity and reusability, making it easier to maintain and extend the application.
6. Easy Integration with Servlets: JSP pages are translated into servlets by the application server during runtime. As a result, JSP can be easily integrated with servlets, allowing developers to use the strengths of both technologies in their web applications.

Advantages of JavaServer Pages:

1. Rapid Development: JSP simplifies the development of dynamic web pages by combining Java and HTML, enabling developers to build feature-rich applications quickly.
2. Platform Independence: Like Java, JSP is platform-independent, allowing applications to run on any platform with a compatible Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
3. Scalability: JSP applications can handle large numbers of concurrent users and provide scalability for growing businesses and applications.
4. Integration with Java EE: JSP seamlessly integrates with other Java EE technologies, such as servlets, JDBC, and EJB, to create comprehensive and robust enterprise applications.

Conclusion:

JavaServer Pages (JSP) is a powerful technology that simplifies the development of dynamic web pages by allowing developers to embed Java code within HTML markup. Its platform independence, scalability, and seamless integration with other Java EE technologies make it a popular choice for building feature-rich and robust web applications.