Professional Java User Interfaces

Chapter 9. Web-Based User Interfaces

This chapter introduces user interfaces delivered within a Web browser using Java technology. This covers a wide array of options, spanning classic server-side markup-based Java technologies such as JSP, JSF, Servlets, and so on, Java applets, and other Web-based GUI technologies. We will also consider technologies for Web GUIs that are not strictly Java, such as Javascript, XMLHttpRequest, and others, because they can be generated by a server-side Java application alone. In general Java can be used in a wide number of different combinations, both on the client and on the server, so covering all the possible alternatives would make the discussion needlessly detailed.

A brief discussion of Web GUI^[123] design is provided for consistency with other chapters book that discuss analogous topics for different platforms, such as wireless devices and the desktop.

The chapter is structured as follows:

9.1, An overview of Web user interfaces briefly introduces the main characteristics of Web GUIs.

9.2, GUI design for the Web introduces some considerations for GUI design for Web user interfaces.

9.3, Implementing Web applications with Java provides an overview of the the technical details of implementing Web applications with Java.

9.4, From Web applications to rich clients discusses the common case of Web developers facing the task of building a rich client interface for an existing application that supports a Web client.

An overview of Web user interfaces

Web-based ...