JSTL forEach tag not iteraring over collection

Question

I have some problems with creating a jsp file. I would like to use JSTL in order to display a collection somehow. First, I have created a java code inside my jsp:

<% for(int i = 0; i < ((List<BookPosition>)request.getAttribute("books")).size(); i+=1) { %>  
        <label>Test</label>
<% } %>

Then, I've create a JSTL snippet.

<c:forEach var="book" items="$(books)">
        <label>Test</label>
</c:forEach>

Unfortunately, the first one outputs correct number of labels (24) and the JSTL version only one label (despite the collection contains exaclty 24 items).

Why?

What do you think `$(books)` represents? Why do you think so? — Sotirios Delimanolis, Nov 17 '15 at 22:39
No idea. I am new to JSP / JSTL and found some snippets, that at servlet side I should set: `request.setAttribute("books", myBookCollection);`, use dispatcher to forward request to jsp and then loop should work. F.e: http://stackoverflow.com/a/4255741/5417374 — pwas, Nov 17 '15 at 22:45
Looks like you are using parentheses () instead of curly braces {} - try ${books} — BlakeP, Nov 17 '15 at 22:46
I don't see the notation `$()` anywhere there. Check the syntax. I'm voting to close as typo. — Sotirios Delimanolis, Nov 17 '15 at 22:46

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 17 '15 at 23:00

EL expressions are written like this : ${ myExpression }

<c:forEach var="book" items="${ books }">
        <label>Test</label>
</c:forEach>

Now, if you also want to keep track of the number of printed values, you could use a counter using the varStatus attribute in your JSTL Core Tag:

<c:forEach var="book" items="${ books }" varStatus="counter">
        <label><c:out value="${ counter.count }"/>. Test</label>
</c:forEach>

JSTL forEach tag not iteraring over collection

1 Answers1