What is difference index.html vs index.jsp?

Question

One URL ends in 'index.html'. Another URL ends in 'index.jsp'. Explain how these two requests result in very different behavior by the server.

Solution

JSP is a file extension for Java Server Pages file format. Think a JSP like an HTML page containing a reference to Java servlets, or, java server side applets.

JSP files help to deliver server side customized content on a webpage through servlets. JSP files keep the Java code secret because it runs server side.

index.html is the default page for that directory. On most Web servers, the default page in a directory is named "index.html". So, index.jsp would be the a default Java Server Page in a directory.

Comments

[Mohsen Kamrani]

"A JSP is an HTML page", are you sure?!

[victorf]

Not properly, but, in this didactic context, it is enough.