<jsp:forward>

Forwards a client request to an HTML file, JSP file, or servlet for processing.

Syntax

<jsp:forward page="{relativeURL | <%= expression %>}" />
or
<jsp:forward page="{relativeURL | <%= expression %>}" >

	<jsp:param name="parameterName" 

		value="{parameterValue | <%= expression %>}" />+

</jsp:forward>

Examples

<jsp:forward page="/servlet/login" />
<jsp:forward page="/servlet/login">

	<jsp:param name="username" value="jsmith" />

</jsp:forward>

Description

The <jsp:forward> element forwards the request object containing the client request information from one JSP file to another file. The target file can be an HTML file, another JSP file, or a servlet, as long as it is in the same application context as the forwarding JSP file. The lines in the source JSP file after the <jsp:forward> element are not processed.

You can pass parameter names and values to the target file by using a <jsp:param> clause. An example of this would be passing the parameter name username (with name="username") and the value scott (with value="scott") to a servlet login file as part of the request. If you use <jsp:param>, the target file should be a dynamic file that can handle the parameters.

Be careful when using <jsp:forward> with unbuffered output. If you have used the <%@ page %> directive with buffer="none" to specify that the output of your JSP file should not be buffered, and if the JSP file has any data in the out object, using <jsp:forward> will cause an IllegalStateException.

Attributes

• page="{relativeURL | <%= expression %>}"

  A String or an expression representing the relative URL of the file to which you are forwarding the request. The file can be another JSP file, a servlet, or any other dynamic file that can handle a request object.

  The relative URL looks like a path-it cannot contain a protocol name, port number, or domain name. The URL can be absolute or relative to the current JSP file. If it is absolute (beginning with a /), the path is resolved by your Web or application server.

• <jsp:param name="parameterName"
  value="{parameterValue | <%= expression %>}" />+

  Sends one or more name/value pairs as parameters to a dynamic file. The target file should be dynamic, that is, a JSP file, servlet, or other file that can process the data that is sent to it as parameters.

  You can use more than one <jsp:param> clause if you need to send more than one parameter to the target file. The name attribute specifies the parameter name and takes a case-sensitive literal string as a value. The value attribute specifies the parameter value and takes either a case-sensitive literal string or an expression that is evaluated at request time.

See Also

• Include Directive
• <jsp:include>
• Page Directive