Advantages of Servlets in Java | Beginner’s Complete Guide

Introduction

When learning Java web development, a common question is:

Why should we use Servlets?

Servlets were created to solve the limitations of older technologies like CGI and to provide a fast, secure, and scalable way to build dynamic web applications using Java.

In this lesson, you will learn all the major advantages of Servlets, explained in simple language, with real-life analogies and practical understanding for beginners.

High Performance

Why Servlets Are Fast

  • Servlets use multithreading

  • Only one servlet instance is created

  • Multiple requests are handled using threads

Unlike CGI, Servlets do not create a new process for every request.

Result:

  • Faster response time

  • Better CPU utilization

Better Scalability

What Scalability Means

Scalability means handling many users at the same time.

Servlets:

  • Handle thousands of requests simultaneously

  • Use lightweight threads instead of heavy processes

 This makes Servlets ideal for large web applications like banking or e-commerce websites.

Platform Independence

Servlets are written in Java, which follows:

Write Once, Run Anywhere

This means:

  • Same servlet code runs on Windows, Linux, or macOS

  • No code changes required

Only the servlet container (Tomcat) is needed.

Robust Security

Servlets provide strong security features:

  • Java’s built-in security model

  • Support for authentication & authorization

  • HTTPS and SSL support

  • Protection against common attacks

Servlets are safer than script-based technologies.

Easy Session Management

Servlets provide built-in support for:

  • HTTP sessions

  • Cookies

  • URL rewriting

Managing user login and state becomes simple.

Efficient Resource Management

Servlet container manages:

  • Servlet lifecycle

  • Memory allocation

  • Thread handling

  • Garbage collection

Developers focus on business logic, not server management.

Rich API and Standardization

Servlets are part of Java EE / Jakarta EE.

Benefits:

  • Well-defined API

  • Industry standard

  • Supported by all major servers

Knowledge is transferable across projects and companies.

Integration with Other Java Technologies

Servlets easily integrate with:

  • JSP

  • JDBC

  • Spring MVC

  • Hibernate

  • REST APIs

Servlets act as the core controller layer.

Easy Maintenance and Reusability

  • Object-oriented design

  • Modular code

  • Reusable components

Makes large applications easier to maintain and upgrade.

Support for MVC Architecture

Servlets naturally fit into MVC design pattern:

  • Model → Business Logic

  • View → JSP / UI

  • Controller → Servlet

This leads to clean and organized applications.

Real-Life Analogy

Think of a Call Center 

  • One office

  • Multiple agents handle calls

  • Shared resources

  • Efficient operation

Servlet = Call Center
Thread = Agent
CGI = Opening a new office for each call