TL;DR: Play implements the classic model-view-controller (MVC) architecture with a route file that maps HTTP requests to controllers, which then take request information and produce an HTTP result representation, optionally using a view template.
Abstract: Play is an open source framework for Web application development created in 2007 and opened to the community in 2009. It targets the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and focuses on simplicity, developer productivity, and HTTP/Web friendliness. Play implements the classic model-view-controller (MVC) architecture with a route file that maps HTTP requests to controllers, which then take request information and produce an HTTP result representation, optionally using a view template. Play then serializes this result representation and returns it as a response to the client.