What is the difference between @ManagedBean and @Named annotations in JSF?

Understanding the Difference Between @ManagedBean and @Named Annotations in JSF

When working with JavaServer Faces (JSF), it's important to grasp the distinctions between the @ManagedBean and @Named annotations. These annotations play a crucial role in defining managed beans in a JSF application.

The main difference lies in the functionality and compatibility of these annotations. The @ManagedBean annotation is a legacy annotation introduced in earlier versions of JSF. It is used to declare a managed bean and associate it with the JSF framework. However, with the advent of CDI (Contexts and Dependency Injection) in Java EE, the @Named annotation has emerged as a more modern alternative.

The @Named annotation is part of the CDI specification and is used to define managed beans that can be accessed by EL expressions in JSF pages. Unlike @ManagedBean, @Named beans are more flexible and are compatible with the wider range of functionality provided by CDI.

Therefore, when choosing between @ManagedBean and @Named annotations in JSF, it is recommended to opt for @Named for better compatibility with modern Java EE technologies and enhanced flexibility in managing beans within the JSF framework.