Can you explain the life cycle of a Servlet in Java?

Life Cycle of a Servlet in Java

Servlets in Java have a well-defined life cycle that starts when the servlet container loads the servlet and ends when it is removed from the container or the container is shut down. The life cycle of a servlet can be divided into four main stages:

1. Initialization: During this stage, the servlet container calls the init() method of the servlet to initialize the servlet. This method is called only once in the lifecycle of the servlet.
2. Request Handling: Once the servlet is initialized, it can handle client requests by processing the service() method. This method is called by the container for each client request.
3. Destroy: When the servlet container decides to remove the servlet, it calls the destroy() method to allow the servlet to release any resources it has acquired. This method is called only once in the lifecycle of the servlet.
4. Unavailable: If the servlet needs to be taken out of service temporarily, the container can call the servlet's destroy() method followed by the init() method to bring the servlet back into service.

Understanding the life cycle of a servlet in Java is crucial for developing efficient and reliable web applications.