Can you explain the lifecycle of a HttpServlet in Java Servlets and provide examples of key methods that are called during each stage of the lifecycle?

Certainly!

When discussing the lifecycle of a `HttpServlet` in Java Servlets, it's important to understand the sequence of method calls that occur from initialization to destruction. The `HttpServlet` class extends the `GenericServlet` class and provides methods specifically designed to handle HTTP requests and responses.

**Initialization Stage:**
During the initialization stage, the `init()` method is called by the servlet container to initialize the servlet. Here, you can perform tasks such as setting up resources or initializing variables. The focus keyword for this stage is `HttpServlet init method`.

Example of `init` method:
```java
@Override
public void init() throws ServletException {
// Initialization code here
}
```

**Request Handling Stage:**
In the request handling stage, the `service()` method is called for each incoming HTTP request. This method determines the type of request (GET, POST, etc.) and delegates it to the appropriate `doXXX()` method (e.g., `doGet()`, `doPost()`). The focus keyword for this stage is `HttpServlet service method`.

Example of `service` method:
```java
@Override
protected void service(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
// Request handling code here
}
```

**Response Generation Stage:**
The `doXXX()` methods are called to handle specific types of HTTP requests. These methods process the request data, perform necessary operations, and generate the response to be sent back to the client. The focus keyword for this stage is `HttpServlet doXXX methods`.

Example of `doGet` method:
```java
@Override
protected void doGet(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
// Handle GET request here
}
```

**Destruction Stage:**
During the destruction stage, the `destroy()` method is called by the servlet container to clean up any resources used by the servlet before it is removed from memory. The focus keyword for this stage is `HttpServlet destroy method`.

Example of `destroy` method:
```java
@Override
public void destroy() {
// Clean-up code here
}
```

By understanding and implementing these key methods in the lifecycle of a `HttpServlet` in Java Servlets, you can effectively manage the handling of HTTP requests and responses in your web applications.