Model 2
In the design of Java Web applications, there are generally used two design models called Model 1 and Model 2. Model 1 is simpler and only recommended for small applications. Model 2 discussed here is recommended for medium- and large-sized applications. It is based on the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern to separate presentation from content.
To understand this article, you should be familiar with the Java programming language in general, and in particular with Java servlets, JavaServer Pages (JSPs) and Java Beans.
In a Model 2 application, requests from the client browser are passed to the controller which is a servlet. It decides which view (JSP) it will pass the request to. The view then invokes methods in a JavaBean (that may access a database) and returns the Response object to the Web container, which then passes it to the client application.
See also:
http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-12–1999/jw-12-ssj-jspmvc.html by Govind Seshadri
http://www.fawcette.com/javapro/2002_06/online/servlets_06_11_02/ by Budi Kurniawan