You can create custom JSP tags for your Web projects based on the
Sun
Microsystems JSP 1.2 Specification.Tag libraries enable you to enhance
your Web site regardless of your proficiency in the Java programming language.
Implementing
custom tags requires all of the following:
- Defining custom tags in a Tag Library Descriptor (TLD) file. This is analogous
to defining XML tags in a DTD file. The TLD file is an XML file that describes
the custom tags in a tag library and includes tag information, such as the
tag names, type of content, attributes, and associated tag handler class.
- Using custom tags within a JSP page. To use a custom tag within a JSP
page, you must first identify where the TLD file is located and identify a
prefix to be used when any of the custom tags in the library are included
in a JSP page. This is accomplished through the use of a taglib directive.
- Creating a Tag Handler class. This is a Java™ class that implements the Tag or BodyTag
interface and is responsible for the implementation of a custom tag at runtime.
A TLD file can be packaged within a JAR file, or as a separately
existing project file. If the TLD file is packaged in a JAR file, it must
be included under the META-INF folder.
You can add your custom tag library
and tag library descriptor files to your project as you would any other project
file.
To add custom JSP tags, you typically follow this process: