Core JSTL: Mastering the JSP™ Standard Tag Library

Chapter 4. Iteration Actions

Topics in This Chapter

• The <c:forEach> Action

• The <c:forTokens> Action

• Iteration Status

• Custom Iteration Actions

In any programming language, the ability to iterate over a set of values is essential. Before JSTL, JSP did not provide an explicit means to accomplish that fundamental task, so developers had two choices: use a scriptlet or implement a custom action, neither of which is very attractive.

JSTL provides two actions that iterate over a set of values: <c:forEach> and <c:forTokens>. JSTL also exposes an interface and two classes that you can use to implement custom iteration actions: LoopTag, LoopTagSupport, and LoopTagStatus, respectively.^[1] This chapter describes the <c:forEach> and <c:forTokens> actions and shows ...