Difference between action and actionListener

Question

I would like to tell me which is the difference between an action and an actionListener in the following example:
<h:form style="text-align:center">
<h:commandButton image="mountrushmore.jpg"
actionListener="#{rushmore.listen}"
action="#{rushmore.act}"/>     
</h:form>Which method of the rushmore bean is invoked first the listen() or the act()? Based on the JSF lifecycle the action events are invoked in the Invoke Application Phase correct?So first we have the process of validation and then the action is invoked right?And then the listener?
Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Action = Executed in the invoke application phase. Runs a method in a bean that returns a String object. The String is used by the navigation system to determine which page to render next. The rules for this are set up in the faces-config.xml file, in the navigation-rule sections.
ActionListener = Executed in the invoke application phase. Is triggered when the action event occurs for the component the listener is attached too. This listener can perform miscellaneous actions required when the button is clicked, but does not return a String that affects the navigation.
What order do they get called? Try this out!
http://www.jsftutorials.net/faces-config/phaseTracker.html
It'll help you understand the JSF lifecycle. Which is VERY important, especially when those weird errors start occurring (or JSF seems to be ignoring your commands).
CowKing