{{Short description|Component of Java web server}} {{more citations needed|date=September 2025}} A '''web container''' (also known as a servlet container;<ref> {{cite book | author = Pilgrim, Peter A. | chapter = The lifecycle of Java Servlets | title = Java EE 7 Developer Handbook | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=rY_1AAAAQBAJ | series = Professional expertise distilled | date = 20 September 2013 | publisher = Packt Publishing Ltd | publication-date = 2013 | isbn = 9781849687959 | access-date = 2016-06-16 | quote = Java Servlets are governed by a web container (a Servlet container). }} </ref> and compare "webcontainer"<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.slideshare.net/bputhal/j2-eee-sides | title = J2EE Framework for project development | author = Puthal, B | year = 2009 | access-date = 2016-06-15 | quote = The types of components within J2EE environment are [...] JSP or servlet as web components running inside webtainer [...] }} </ref>) is the component of a web server that interacts with Jakarta Servlets. A web container is responsible for managing the lifecycle of servlets, mapping a URL to a particular servlet and ensuring that the URL requester has the correct access-rights. A web container handles requests to servlets, Jakarta Server Pages (JSP) files, and other types of files that include server-side code. The Web container creates servlet instances, loads and unloads servlets, creates and manages request and response objects, and performs other servlet-management tasks. A web container implements the web component contract of the Jakarta EE architecture. This architecture specifies a runtime environment for additional web components, including security, concurrency, lifecycle management, transaction, deployment, and other services.
==List of Servlet containers== The following is a list of notable applications which implement the Jakarta Servlet specification from Eclipse Foundation, divided depending on whether they are directly sold or not.
===Open source Web containers=== * Apache Tomcat (formerly Jakarta Tomcat) is an open source web container available under the Apache Software License. ** Apache Tomcat 6 and above are operable as general application container (prior versions were web containers only) * Apache Geronimo is a full Java EE 6 implementation by Apache Software Foundation. * Enhydra, from Lutris Technologies. * GlassFish from Eclipse Foundation (an application server, but includes a web container). * Jetty, from the Eclipse Foundation. Also supports SPDY and WebSocket protocols. * Open Liberty, from IBM, is a fully compliant Jakarta EE server * Virgo from Eclipse Foundation provides modular, OSGi based web containers implemented using embedded Tomcat and Jetty. Virgo is available under the Eclipse Public License. * WildFly (formerly JBoss Application Server) is a full Java EE implementation by Red Hat, division JBoss.
===Commercial Web containers=== * iPlanet Web Server, from Oracle. * JBoss Enterprise Application Platform from Red Hat, division JBoss is subscription-based/open-source Jakarta EE-based application server. * WebLogic Application Server, from Oracle Corporation (formerly developed by BEA Systems). * Orion Application Server, from IronFlare. * Resin Pro, from Caucho Technology. * IBM WebSphere Application Server. * SAP NetWeaver.
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Web interfaces}} {{Portal bar|Computer programming}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Web Container}} Category:Computer networking Category:Java (software platform) Category:Software architecture Category:Web applications Category:Web development
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