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| The Apache Struts web framework |
| ------------------------------- |
| |
| [](https://ci-builds.apache.org/job/Struts/job/Struts%20Core/job/main/) |
| [](https://github.com/apache/struts/actions/workflows/maven.yml) |
| [](https://maven-badges.sml.io/maven-central/org.apache.struts/struts2-core/) |
| [](https://javadoc.io/doc/org.apache.struts/struts2-core) |
| [](https://sonarcloud.io/summary/new_code?id=apache_struts) |
| [](https://deps.dev/maven/org.apache.struts%3Astruts2-core) |
| [](https://bestpractices.coreinfrastructure.org/projects/6618) |
| [](http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html) |
| |
| The Apache Struts web framework is a free open-source solution for creating Java web applications. |
| |
| ## Documentation |
| |
| More information can be found on the [homepage](https://struts.apache.org/). Please read the [Security Guide](https://struts.apache.org/security/), |
| and the [JavaDocs](https://struts.apache.org/maven/struts2-core/apidocs/index.html) can be browsed. |
| Questions related to the usage of Apache Struts should be posted to the [user mailing list](https://struts.apache.org/mail.html). |
| |
| ## Description |
| |
| Web applications differ from conventional websites in that web applications can create a dynamic response. Many websites |
| deliver only static pages. A web application can interact with databases and business logic engines to customize a response. |
| |
| Web applications based on JavaServer Pages sometimes commingle database code, page design code, and control flow code. |
| In practice, we find that unless these concerns are separated, larger applications become difficult to maintain. |
| |
| One way to separate concerns in a software application is to use a Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture. The Model |
| represents the business or database code, the View represents the page design code, and the Controller represents |
| the navigational code. The Struts framework is designed to help developers create web applications that utilize |
| an MVC architecture. |
| |
| The framework provides three key components: |
| |
| - A “request” handler provided by the application developer that is mapped to a standard URI. |
| - A “response” handler that transfers control to another resource which completes the response. |
| - A tag library that helps developers create interactive form-based applications with server pages. |
| |
| The framework’s architecture and tags are buzzword compliant. Struts works well |
| with conventional REST applications and with technologies like SOAP and AJAX. |
| |
| ## The Apache Struts Project |
| |
| The Apache Struts Project is the open source community that creates and maintains the Apache Struts framework. |
| The project consists of a diverse group of volunteers who share common values regarding collaborative, community-based |
| open source development. The Apache Struts Project is proud to share these values with our parent organization: |
| The Apache Software Foundation. |
| |
| The project is called “Struts” because the framework is meant to furnish the “invisible underpinnings” that support |
| professional application development. Struts provides the glue that joins the various elements of the standard Java |
| platform into a coherent whole. Our goal is to leverage existing standards by producing the missing pieces we need to create |
| enterprise-grade applications that are easy to maintain over time. |
| |
| The Apache Struts Project offered two major versions of the Struts framework. Currently we are only maintaining the Struts 2 |
| version. It is recommended to upgrade all Struts 1.x applications to Struts 2. Please do not start new application development |
| using Struts 1.x, as we are no longer issuing security patches. |
| |
| Struts 2 was originally known as WebWork 2. After working independently for several years, the WebWork and Struts |
| communities joined forces to create Struts 2. The 2.x framework is the best choice for teams who value elegant solutions |
| to difficult problems. |
| |
| ## Why should you use Apache Struts? |
| |
| Apache Struts is a modern, maintained and full-featured web framework. As it has been around for years and grown a huge user |
| base it is unlikely it will go away anytime soon. Not only that, we have dedicated users and developers |
| on the project. Apache Struts is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 and this will not change. We maintain a clean IP |
| and you are “safe” to use the project. Sometimes you are not “safe” to use a project when a company controls the SCM. |
| Access to Source Code doesn’t mean it is free. With Apache Struts, you are not only free to “do what you want with it”, |
| you can even contribute (which is not always the case). And best of all: you can become a part of the core team too. |
| |
| It is usually very easy to integrate other technologies with Apache Struts. If you are using an ORM like Apache Cayenne, |
| Hibernate or JDBC, you will not have any restrictions. Apache Struts is not even tied too much to a frontend technology. |
| In old days it was JSP, then came Velocity and Freemarker. Nowadays you might build your web application with just static |
| HTML and AngularJS. Or you might want to use Sitemesh or Tiles. This all is no problem due to Struts' elegant and easy-to-use |
| extension mechanisms. |
| |
| Unlike other, component-oriented frameworks, we do not aim to hide the stateless nature of the web. We think it is |
| perfectly acceptable to build upon a Request/Response cycle. We also think the MVC pattern is not so bad, just because |
| it is old. In fact, we believe the Apache Struts architecture is clean and easy to understand. |
| |
| Of course, if you wish to build components on the server side which render on the front end side, you will most likely |
| not want Struts. This is a different approach which promises to reduce the amount of HTML/JavaScript knowledge needed |
| and to create reusable components for the view layer. Projects like Wicket and Tapestry serve this purpose very well. |
| As with every framework, you need to decide if it makes sense for you to build components or if you prefer |
| the Struts approach. |
| |
| ## Commercial Support |
| |
| The Apache Struts community does not offer commercial support by itself, but we maintain [a list of companies offering |
| commercial support on our website](https://struts.apache.org/commercial-support.html). |
| |
| Some Apache Struts maintainers are working with [Tidelift](https://tidelift.com/) to provide commercial support and |
| invest paid working time in the improvement of the Apache Struts framework. For more information, visit |
| the [Tidelift resources regarding Apache Struts](https://tidelift.com/subscription/pkg/maven-org-apache-struts-struts2-core?utm_source=maven-org-apache-struts-struts2-core&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=readme) |
| |
| ## Thank you |
| |
| [YourKit](https://www.yourkit.com/) is kindly supporting open source projects with its full-featured Java Profiler. |
| YourKit is the creator of innovative and intelligent tools for profiling Java and .NET applications. |
| As an Apache committer, you can get a free license at [YourKit's open source sponsorship program](https://www.yourkit.com/java/profiler/purchase/#os_license). |
