<%! this is a declaration %> 

<% this is a scriptlet %> 

<%= this is an expression %>

White space is optional after  <%! ,  <% , and  <%= , and before  %> .

The equivalent XML elements for these scripting elements are described in Section 7.4.

2.10.1

Declarations

Declarations are used to declare variables and methods in the scripting language used in a 

JSP page. A declaration should be a complete declarative statement, or sequence thereof, 

according to the syntax of the scripting language specified.

Declarations do not produce any output into the current 

out

 stream.

Declarations are initialized when the JSP page is initialized and are made available to other 

declarations, scriptlets, and expressions.

Examples

For example, the first declaration below declares an integer, and initializes it to zero; while 

the second declaration declares a method.

<%! int i = 0; %>

<%! public String f(int i) { if (i<3) return( ... ); ... } %>

Syntax

<%! 

declaration(s)

 %>

2.10.2

Scriptlets

Scriptlets can contain any code fragments that are valid for the scripting language specified 

in the 

language

 directive. Whether the code fragment is legal depends on the details of the 

scripting language; see Chapter 4.

Scriptlets are executed at request processing time. Whether or not they produce any output 

into the 

out

 stream depends on the actual code in the scriptlet. Scriptlets can have side 

effects, modifying the objects visible in them.

55

JavaServer Pages 1.1 Specification  

November 30, 1999