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Asked: 2026-06-01T04:47:26+00:00

So I understand that JSPs are a mixture of a client-side code (DHTML, JS,

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So I understand that JSPs are a mixture of a client-side code (DHTML, JS, CSS, etc.) and Java. In this way, JSPs are kind of like pure PHP or pure ASP. When the web container receives a request for a JSP, it compiles the Java inside the JSP, executes it and then returns the resultant client-side code in the HTTP Response.

I also understand that an alternative to JSPs are Servlets, or a Servlet/templating combo, like FreeMarker. The servlets contain pure Java (business logic), and the templates contain presentation logic.

What I don’t understand is how JSF-derived technologies like RichFaces, PrimeFaces and ICEFaces turn Java code into client-side code that can run in a browser. I’ve also heard that the major draw to these frameworks are the “rich” UI controls they come with, but am having a tough time connecting all the dots.

Do these frameworks get compiled to JS like the GWT does? If that’s the case then I would assume that these rich UI controls would be the same as, say, jQuery UI controls that are just pure JS.

If that’s not the case then I just don’t understand (at all) how these frameworks turn server-side code into “stuff” that can execute client-side.

Thanks in advance!

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    What I don’t understand is how JSF-derived technologies like RichFaces, PrimeFaces and ICEFaces turn Java code into client-side code that can run in a browser

    The HTML is generated by encodeXxx() methods of UIComponent and/or Renderer implementations. Those methods are invoked during render response phase, starting with the UIViewRoot which delegates the call all the way through the entire component tree hierarchy.

    JSF implementations such as Mojarra and practically all component libraries are open source. To take the JSF standard <h:inputText> component as an example, start looking at com.sun.faces.renderkit.html_basic.TextRenderer class to see all the HTML generating code.

    Do these frameworks get compiled to JS like the GWT does?

    Absolutely not. Open a JSF page in browser, rightclick and View Source. It’s all just HTML code, if necessary along with auto-included CSS/JS files. With GWT it’s one and all JS code.

    See also:

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