## javax.servlet.jsp.tagext
Interface BodyTag

All Superinterfaces:
  IterationTag, Tag

All Known Implementing Classes:
  BodyTagSupport

public interface BodyTag
extends IterationTag

The BodyTag interface extends IterationTag by defining additional methods that let a tag handler manipulate the content of evaluating its body.

It is the responsibility of the tag handler to manipulate the body content. For example the tag handler may take the body content, convert it into a String using the bodyContent.getString method and then use it. Or the tag handler may take the body content and write it out into its enclosing JspWriter using the bodyContent.writeOut method.

A tag handler that implements BodyTag is treated as one that implements IterationTag, except that the doStartTag method can return SKIP_BODY, EVAL_BODY_INCLUDE or EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED.

If EVAL_BODY_INCLUDE is returned, then evaluation happens as in IterationTag.

If EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED is returned, then a BodyContent object will be created (by code generated by the JSP compiler) to capture the body evaluation. The code generated by the JSP compiler obtains the BodyContent object by calling the pushBody method of the current pageContext, which additionally has the effect of saving the previous out value. The page compiler returns this object by calling the popBody method of the PageContext class; the call also restores the value of out.

The interface provides one new property with a setter method and one new action method.

Properties

There is a new property: bodyContent, to contain the BodyContent object, where the JSP Page implementation object will place the evaluation (and reevaluation, if appropriate) of the body. The setter method (setBodyContent) will only be invoked if doStartTag() returns EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED.

Methods

In addition to the setter method for the bodyContent property, there is a new action methods: doInitBody(), which is invoked right after setBodyContent() and before the body evaluation. This method is only invoked if doStartTag() returns EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED.

Lifecycle

Lifecycle details are described by the transition diagram below. Exceptions that are thrown during the computation of doStartTag(), setBodyContent(), doInitBody(), BODY, doAfterBody() interrupt the execution sequence and are propagated up the stack, unless the tag handler implements the TryCatchFinally interface; see that interface for details.

Empty and Non-Empty Action

If the TagLibraryDescriptor file indicates that the action must always have an empty action, by an <body-content> entry of "empty", then the doStartTag() method must return SKIP_BODY. Otherwise, the doStartTag() method may return SKIP_BODY, EVAL_BODY_INCLUDE, or EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED.

If SKIP_BODY is returned the body is not evaluated, and doEndTag() is invoked.

If EVAL_BODY_INCLUDE is returned, setBodyContent() is not invoked, doInitBody() is not invoked, the body is evaluated and "passed through" to the current out, doAfterBody() is invoked and then, after zero or more iterations, doEndTag() is invoked.

If EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED is returned, setBodyContent() is invoked, doInitBody() is invoked, the body is evaluated, doAfterBody() is invoked, and then, after zero or more iterations, doEndTag() is invoked.

Field Summary
`static int` `EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED` Request the creation of new buffer, a BodyContent on which to evaluate the body of this tag.
`static int` `EVAL_BODY_TAG` Deprecated. As of Java JSP API 1.2, use BodyTag.EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED or IterationTag.EVAL_BODY_AGAIN.

Fields inherited from interface javax.servlet.jsp.tagext.IterationTag
`EVAL_BODY_AGAIN`

Fields inherited from interface javax.servlet.jsp.tagext.Tag
`EVAL_BODY_INCLUDE, EVAL_PAGE, SKIP_BODY, SKIP_PAGE`

Method Summary
`void` `doInitBody()` Prepare for evaluation of the body.
`void` `setBodyContent(BodyContent b)` Set the bodyContent property.

Methods inherited from interface javax.servlet.jsp.tagext.IterationTag
`doAfterBody`

Methods inherited from interface javax.servlet.jsp.tagext.Tag
`doEndTag, doStartTag, getParent, release, setPageContext, setParent`

Field Detail

### EVAL_BODY_TAG

    public static final int EVAL_BODY_TAG

  Deprecated. As of Java JSP API 1.2, use BodyTag.EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED or IterationTag.EVAL_BODY_AGAIN.

  Deprecated constant that has the same value as EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED and EVAL_BODY_AGAIN. This name has been marked as deprecated to encourage the use of the two different terms, which are much more descriptive.

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

### EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED

    public static final int EVAL_BODY_BUFFERED

  Request the creation of new buffer, a BodyContent on which to evaluate the body of this tag. Returned from doStartTag when it implements BodyTag. This is an illegal return value for doStartTag when the class does not implement BodyTag.

  See Also:
    Constant Field Values

Method Detail

### setBodyContent

    public void setBodyContent(BodyContent b)

  Set the bodyContent property. This method is invoked by the JSP page implementation object at most once per action invocation. This method will be invoked before doInitBody. This method will not be invoked for empty tags or for non-empty tags whose doStartTag() method returns SKIP_BODY or EVAL_BODY_INCLUDE.

  When setBodyContent is invoked, the value of the implicit object out has already been changed in the pageContext object. The BodyContent object passed will have not data on it but may have been reused (and cleared) from some previous invocation.

  The BodyContent object is available and with the appropriate content until after the invocation of the doEndTag method, at which case it may be reused.

  Parameters:
    `b` - the BodyContent

### doInitBody

    public void doInitBody()
                    throws JspException

  Prepare for evaluation of the body. This method is invoked by the JSP page implementation object after setBodyContent and before the first time the body is to be evaluated. This method will not be invoked for empty tags or for non-empty tags whose doStartTag() method returns SKIP_BODY or EVAL_BODY_INCLUDE.

  The JSP container will resynchronize any variable values that are indicated as so in TagExtraInfo after the invocation of doInitBody().

  Throws:
    `JspException`

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