Forward vs Redirect

 

Forward

• forward is performed internally by the servlet
• the browser is completely unaware that it has taken place, so its original URL remains intact
• any browser reload will simple repeat the original request, with the original URL

Redirect

• redirect is a two step process, where the web application instructs the browser to fetch a second URL, which differs from the original
• a browser reload of the second URL will not repeat the original request, but will rather fetch the second URL
• redirect is always slower than a forward, since it requires a second browser request
• beans placed in the original request scope are not available to the second request

 

 private void redirect(

    ResponsePage aDestinationPage, 

    HttpServletResponse aResponse

  ) throws IOException {

    String urlWithSessionID = aResponse.encodeRedirectURL(aDestinationPage.toString());

    fLogger.fine("REDIRECT: " + Util.quote(urlWithSessionID));

    aResponse.sendRedirect( urlWithSessionID );

  }

  private void forward(

    ResponsePage aDestination, 

    HttpServletRequest aRequest, 

    HttpServletResponse aResponse

  ) throws ServletException, IOException {

    RequestDispatcher dispatcher = aRequest.getRequestDispatcher(aDestination.toString());

    dispatcher.forward(aRequest, aResponse);

  }

http://www.javapractices.com/Topic181.cjp

 

Tony