The superclass "javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet" was not found on the Java Build Path

I have a project created by Maven integration in Eclipse. All work fine, but in the work space in all JSP files have this:

The superclass "javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet" was not found on the Java Build Path

To the first string where place:

<%@ page language="java" contentType="text/html; charset=UTF-8"
    pageEncoding="UTF-8"%>

When I create a basic dynamic web project and JSP in - all is fine, no errors.

Add a runtime first and select project properties. Then check the server name from the 'Runtimes' tab as shown in the image.

Include servlet-api-3.1.jar in your dependencies.

• Maven

    <dependency>
        <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
        <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
        <version>3.1.0</version>
        <scope>provided</scope>
    </dependency>
  

• Gradle

    configurations {
        provided
    }
    sourceSets {
        main { compileClasspath += configurations.provided }
    }
    dependencies {
        provided 'javax.servlet:javax.servlet-api:3.1.0'
    }
  

Project → Properties → Target Runtimes → Apache Tomcat worked for me. There is no Target Runtimes under Facets (I'm on Eclipse v4.2 (Juno)).

For an Ant project:

Make sure, you have servlet-api.jar in the lib folder.

For a Maven project:

Make sure, you have the dependency added in POM.xml.

<dependency>
  <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
  <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
  <version>3.1.0</version>
  <scope>provided</scope>
</dependency>

Another way to do it is: Update the project facets to pick up the right server.

Check this box in this location:

Project → Properties → Target Runtimes → Apache Tomcat (any server)

Project → Properties → Target Runtimes → *Apache Tomcat worked for me. There is no Target Runtimes under Facets (I'm on Eclipse v4.4 (Luna)).

Adding the Tomcat server in the server runtime will do the job:

Project Properties → Target Runtimes → Select your Server from the list, "JBoss Runtime" → Finish

In case of Apache you can select Apache Runtime.

These steps can really help you:

1. If you didn't install any server you have to do these steps:

   Menu Window → Preferences → Expend Server → Runtime environment → Add → choose a name and then choose the Apache server path that you already installed on your PC (you can press download and install too) → Finish → OK

Ref# for more information, click here

2. Add the Tomcat server:

   Project Properties → Java Build Path → Add Library → Select "Server Runtime" from the list* → Next → Select "Apache Tomcat" → Finish

Ref# This answer

Just add these dependencies to your pom.xml file:

<dependency>
    <groupId>javax.servlet</groupId>
    <artifactId>javax.servlet-api</artifactId>
    <version>3.0.1</version>
    <scope>provided</scope>
</dependency>

<dependency>
    <groupId>javax.servlet.jsp</groupId>
    <artifactId>javax.servlet.jsp-api</artifactId>
    <version>2.2.1</version>
    <scope>provided</scope>
</dependency>

Adding the Tomcat server in the server runtime will do the job:

Project properties → Java Build Path → Add Library → Select "Server Runtime" from the list → Next → Select "Apache Tomcat" → Finish.

Select project → Properties → Project Facets → Target Runtimes → VMware Server.

It worked for me.

As this is unanswered, I am guessing something other than Maven dependencies are wrong with the ops build.

While not using Maven, I have the same problem from time to time when re-creating my development environment from svn, and I always forget why and have to figure it out. Unfortunately it seems this is a problem with Eclipse.

I am able to remove all such errors from once working projects by picking just one of the dynamic web projects, or just tomcat dependent projects, and move a dependency in the build order. This seems to force all projects to rebuild properly and all of the errors are then resolved.

Right click on a web project, select "build Path" -> "Configure Build Path". Go to the tab "Order and Export", then pick a library or jar entry and move it up or down. I used the JRE System Library and moved it to the top.

Click OK, and all that red goes away!

If you are not using Maven, just drop the javax.servlet-api.jar in your project lib folder.

In case of JBoss... right click on project → Build Java path → add external JAR files.

Then browse to jboss-folder → Common → lib → servlet-api.jar

. . Click OK, refresh the project, and run it...

And if nothing works by whatever reason, build it from the command line:

ant -Dj2ee.server.home=D:\apache-tomcat-8.0.23 clean

ant -Dj2ee.server.home=D:\apache-tomcat-8.0.23 compile

ant -Dj2ee.server.home=D:\apache-tomcat-8.0.23 dist