Problem with the <c:out> that provides a default attribute

I am just trying to print a default value when the user does not input any values in the form (of page index.jsp).

In the Bert's book of 2nd edition, it states that

This value is output if the value attribute evaluates to null. And, the above should render as

Here is the jsp page that does the c : out testing with default.

Here is the index.jsp page

I do not get the default value printed when there is no input in the form. I expected the default guest value should get printed!

Hi Swagato,

Because you are submitting a parameter with the name "name" it will handle it as an empty String, and therefore outputing an empty String instead of your default value. If you remove <input type="text" name="name"> from your jsp it should work as you had expected.

Regards,
Frits

Frits Walraven wrote:Hi Swagato,

Because you are submitting a parameter with the name "name" it will handle it as an empty String, and therefore outputing an empty String instead of your default value. If you remove <input type="text" name="name"> from your jsp it should work as you had expected.

Regards,
Frits

So, not providing any data in the form basically means an "empty string". Whereas no input type means null? AM i right?

Frits Walraven wrote:Hi Swagato,

Because you are submitting a parameter with the name "name" it will handle it as an empty String, and therefore outputing an empty String instead of your default value. If you remove <input type="text" name="name"> from your jsp it should work as you had expected.

Regards,
Frits

Thanks