Role-specific Java Servlet Programming Interview Questions & Answers:

1. Which interface must be implemented by all servlets?

Servlet interface.

2. What is servlet context ?

The servlet context is an object that contains a servlet's view of the Web application within which the servlet is running. Using the context, a servlet can log events, obtain URL references to resources, and set and store attributes that other servlets in the context can use. (answer supplied by Sun's tutorial).

3. What is servlet mapping?

The servlet mapping defines an association between a URL pattern and a servlet. The mapping is used to map requests to servlets.

4. What is Java Servlet session?

The session is an object used by a servlet to track a user's interaction with a Web application across multiple HTTP requests.

5. Difference between GET and POST in Java Servlets?

In GET your entire form submission can be encapsulated in one URL, like a hyperlink. query length is limited to 260 characters, not secure, faster, quick and easy.
In POST Your name/value pairs inside the body of the HTTP request, which makes for a cleaner URL and imposes no size limitations on the form's output. It is used to send a chunk of data to the server to be processed, more versatile, most secure.

6. What mechanisms are used by a Servlet Container to maintain session information?

Cookies, URL rewriting, and HTTPS protocol information are used to maintain session information

7. The code in a finally clause will never fail to execute, right?

Using System.exit(1); in try block will not allow finally code to execute.

8. How can a servlet refresh automatically if some new data has entered the database?

You can use a client-side Refresh or Server Push

9. Can we use the constructor, instead of init(), to initialize servlet?

Yes , of course you can use the constructor instead of init(). There's nothing to stop you. But you shouldn't. The original reason for init() was that ancient versions of Java couldn't dynamically invoke constructors with arguments, so there was no way to give the constructur a ServletConfig. That no longer applies, but servlet containers still will only call your no-arg constructor. So you won't have access to a ServletConfig or ServletContext.

10. How can I send user authentication information while makingURLConnection?

You'll want to use HttpURLConnection.setRequestProperty and set all the appropriate headers to HTTP authorization.