Apache Struts, an open-source web application framework, has undergone significant evolution since its inception. From its early days as Struts 1 to the modern Struts 2, the framework has adapted to changing needs and technological advancements. Understanding this evolution helps developers appreciate the improvements and enhancements that Struts 2 offers over its predecessor. FITA Academy provides a thorough Struts Course in Chennai designed to equip developers with skills in built-in validation techniques for form inputs, ensuring data integrity within the Struts framework. This course highlights how annotations simplify and streamline Struts 2 configuration, making it more efficient.

Architectural Changes

It was built around the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, but its implementation had limitations. It used Action classes to handle user requests, which often led to tightly coupled code and complex configurations. Struts 1 also relied heavily on XML-based configuration files, which could be cumbersome to manage.

On the other hand, redefined the MVC architecture. It introduced a more flexible and powerful framework that uses a new Action component model. Instead of relying solely on XML, Struts 2 uses annotations to simplify configuration, reducing the complexity and making the framework more intuitive.

Enhanced Action Handling

In Struts 1, Action classes were responsible for handling business logic and interacting with the view. This often led to bloated Action classes that combined multiple responsibilities. This issue by introducing the concept of an Action interface, which allows for cleaner separation of concerns. Actions are simpler and more focused, improving maintainability and readability.

Improved Tag Libraries

It provides a basic set of tag libraries for building user interfaces, which were limited in functionality and flexibility. Struts 2 introduced a more powerful and flexible tag library known as the Tags. These tags include features like data validation and error handling. They are designed to work seamlessly with the new framework. This provides enhanced UI capabilities and better integration with modern web technologies.

Enhanced Interceptors

One of the most notable improvements is the introduction of interceptors. Interceptors are used to preprocess and postprocess requests, providing a way to handle cross-cutting concerns like logging, authentication, and input validation in a modular fashion. This is a significant upgrade, where such concerns had to be managed directly within Action classes or through complex configuration.

Integration with Other Technologies

Improved support for integrating with other technologies and frameworks. For example, it provides better integration with JavaServer Pages (JSP), JavaServer Faces (JSF), and various data access technologies.

Finally, Struts 2 aimed to streamline the development process by reducing boilerplate code and simplifying configuration. Prepare for a transformative learning experience at Training Institutes in Chennai to streamline workflows and boost the efficiency of your web applications. The evolution reflects a significant enhancement in the framework’s architecture, usability, and integration capabilities. Struts 2 has addressed many of the limitations of its predecessor, offering developers a more powerful and flexible tool for building modern web applications.