Difference between perform() and execute()

Perform method is the method which was deprecated in the Struts Version 1.1. In Struts 1.x, Action.perform() is the method called by the ActionServlet. This is typically where your business logic resides, or at least the flow control to your JavaBeans and EJBs that handle your business logic. As we already mentioned, to support declarative exception handling, the method signature changed in perform. Now execute just throws Exception. Action.perform() is now deprecated; however, the Struts v1.1 ActionServlet is smart enough to know whether or not it should call perform or execute in the Action, depending on which one is available.

Difference between DispatchAction() and LoojupDispatchAction()

LookupDispatchAction is subclass of DispactAction class. The LookupDispatchAction class is used when you wants to add struts's internalization functionality in your application. Internalization means multiple languges supports application.

If your using DispatchAction Class you will not be able to apply "internalization" functionality.

DispatchAction dispatches the action based on the parameter value. Where as lookupdispatchAction which is a subclass of it. It inherits all the properties but It supports one more additional method called getmethodkey() for all those mappings.